DILYS Lindsay, national secretary of the Riding for the Disabled Association of Ireland (RDAI) will receive nationwide recognition next week for her dedication to sport as she has been awarded the Kildare award for the 2021 Federation of Irish Sport Volunteers in Sport Awards.

The awards, which take virtually next week, will see volunteers from across the country, honoured for their amazing dedication to volunteering across a variety of different sports.

Dilys has spent over 21 years volunteering for the RDAI and is delighted to receive the award. “I am absolutely delighted and I am humbled by RDAI’s faith in me,” she told The Irish Field. “We have hundreds of incredible compassionate and dedicated volunteers, and this is for them as well. I may be the person who helps to keep the wheel turning but this award is for all the volunteers in the organisation.”

Dilys is described as an incredibly devoted and diligent volunteer and is responsible for ensuring the 40 branches of the RDAI – which caters for over 600 children and young adults around the country in 14 different areas – operate in a safe and compliant manner. Dilys is known for her approachability and is conscientious, sincere and hardworking and has played a vital role through her volunteering over the last number of years.

Throughout September and October members of the public, sports clubs and governing bodies were invited to nominate an individual whose contribution to sport and physical activity in Ireland has made a real difference to their community, club or county. The nominations and award recipients were selected by a judging panel.

“I totally love the organisation and I am completely committed to it. I may not be the person with the most equestrian expertise but not everyone wants to send all the emails and do the forms etc; that is the skill that I can offer,” Dilys said.

While the organisation was hugely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, groups are starting to get back now. “We have seven or eight groups up and running again now which is wonderful news. We hope the rest will start in early spring.”

Dilys added that the closure of some riding schools has had an effect, but reported the organisation are grateful to have secured insurance in a difficult current climate. “There is the unfortunate circumstance that some riding centres have closed and sold ponies, which means some of our groups are looking for new venue.

“We are very grateful to have been able to source insurance, it took us a long time and we are very grateful to Underwriting Exchange and Sweeney Walsh. Our treasurer Stephen Keeley worked tirelessly for month and months and we are grateful to have it,” she added.