We are delighted that Mari is part of our BRIT Ambassador family and championing the annual BRIT Challenge to support and improve young adult mental health throughout the UK.
Mari is an international Para Dressage rider and a five time National Champion, Triple International Champion and European silver (team) medallist.
Mari is currently training with her new horse, Demo, and preparing to represent Great Britain in 2022. She is aiming for selection at the World Equestrian Games next summer.
“Having lived with a life changing condition, been bullied at school because of my disability, and as a former student, I know that many young adults suffer with mental health challenges. I am thrilled to be joining the BRIT Ambassador family to support and improve young adult mental health throughout the UK.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the lives of many young people; especially those who are vulnerable, living with disabilities and who have limited mobility. Mental health services are under increasing pressure and its vital that students receive support for their mental health and wellbeing now, so that they do not endure long-term mental health effects that will affect their health, studies and future employment.
The British Inspiration Trust’s annual BRIT Challenge is an exciting UK-wide opportunity for students and young adults of all abilities to unite as university and college teams (at home or on campus) and take part in a feel-good February fundraiser. It’s an inspiring initiative to invite every university and college team to choose a second charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT, to support local, regional and national charities; especially as many have found fundraising extremely tough during the pandemic.
To encourage universities and colleges to enter teams, and support young adults and students taking part in the BRIT Challenge, we need current and retired Olympians, Paralympians and sports personalities from every sport, to come together and lend their support to BRIT. I am excited to share the opportunity to join the BRIT Ambassador family with my fellow Great Britain riders, so that we can come together as a Great Britain Equestrian family and promote the BRIT Challenge at universities and colleges of our choice, help destigmatise mental health and champion equality, diversity and inclusion.
I look forward to encouraging and supporting students and staff at the University of Bedfordshire, The Bedford College Group and the Central Bedfordshire College as they take on the BRIT Challenge”.
Mari Durward-Akhurst
Five time National Champion, Triple International Champion & European medallist
Mari was educated at Watford Grammar School for Girls and then between 2012 and 2015, completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Therapy at the University of Bedfordshire.
Mari has a very rare degenerative genetic condition, with symptoms consisting of Ataxia and Dystonia. When she was younger, Mari found that her disability made it hard to make friends and she was bullied a lot.
Horse-riding changed everything for Mari and it helped her both physically and mentally. Horses have given Mari the freedom that she doesn’t have in a wheelchair.
Mari started riding at her local Riding for the Disabled Centre (RDA) after her physiotherapist suggested it as a form of therapy. She won her first RDA competition when she was 11 years old and qualified for the RDA national Championships in 2012. She was talent-spotted at a local para-riding competition and went on to represent Great Britain at Junior and Young Rider level.
In 2016, Mari won the Grade 3 Restricted Winter Championships.
Mari’s condition deteriorated and this meant that she was competing in the wrong competition grade for a long time. She was re-graded and this was a huge positive change for Mari and her riding career.
After her reclassification, Mari went on to become the 2016 Grade 1 Silver Champion, 2016 and 2018 Grade 1 Gold Champion and won the 2018 Hartpury 3* International.
Mari was subsequently selected to represent Great Britain at the 2018 Waragem CPEDI3* where she finished third in the freestyle.
In 2019, Mari became the Grade 1 Gold Semi-Final Champion and Reserve Champion, that earned her direct qualification to the Gold Nationals, and won team silver at the European Championships. That same year, Mari was the top Great Britain Grade 1 rider in the FEI World Rankings and 13th in the world.
In 2020, Mari qualified both her horses, Bear and Sky, for the 2021 Para Dressage Winter Gold Championships, however decided not to compete. Sky was retired and with the delay of the 2020 Paralympic Games, Mari felt that her younger horse, Bear, wasn't going to be ready to compete at Tokyo.
In 2021, Mari competed on her new horse, Demo, at the Bishop Burton 3* International where she had a top three finish in all three classes. She was selected to represent Great Britain at Keysoe, where she had a top four finish in all three classes. Mari qualified Damo for the Winter Para Dressage Gold Championships in 2022.
Mari is currently training and preparing to represent Great Britain in 2022 and is aiming for selection for the World Equestrian Games next summer. In the meantime, Mari is aiming to compete and achieve top places at the Winter Para Dressage Gold Championships.
Mari has completed workshops for the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and recently completing a Mental Health First Aid Course. Her passion is encouraging young riders to become involved with Riding for the Disabled and then to make the step to Para Dressage; acting as a mentor for four up and coming Para Riders.
Mari is an Ambassador for Arctic One, the Douglas Bader Foundation and Ataxia UK. She is also a public speaker, sharing her story and inspiring others along the way.
For more information on Mari and the Para-Equestrian team, please visit the British Equestrian website.
You can follow Mari on Instagram.
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