An equestrian training company from Blackstone has beaten off the likes of tennis giants Wilson to claim a prestigous national accolade.
iRide, which is based near Henfield, picked up the Best Technology in a Single Sport award at the Sports Technology Awards held in London earlier this month (Friday April 4).
Beginning with a cassette tape and a walkman almost 20 years ago, iRide has since gone on to become one of dressage’s leading innovators.
Their product, a series of downloadable audio lessons, allows riders to listen to world class training through an MP3 player while riding their horse.
Alison Short, who founded iRide with Simon Hughes, said: “We were absolutley elated.
“It didn’t dawn on us until we went home and Googled who we had been up against, that we realised just what an amazing win it was.”
iRide itself was formed in 2011 with the aim of making horseriding and dressage more accesible for the masses.
It works with renowned riders, including Billinghurst’s Team GB rider, Sarah Millis, to provide affordable training for everyone.
Mrs Short added: “We want dressage to be accessible to everyone and not considered elitist.”
At the awards, iRide fought off competition from global tennis giant Wilson’s ‘Spin Effect’ technology, as well as a number of multi-national companies.
The competition was judged by some of British sport’s elite including Tessa Sanderson and Sir Clive Woodward.
They heaped praise on iRide, saying: “iRide is an excellent innovation. It is a simple effective use of available tech. offering a real and quantifiable benefit.”
The audio lessons start from just £7.99 and anyone interested can find out more at www.iridetraining.co.uk