April 2007
Successful Training Camp in Ireland
The Paralympic Council of Ireland's spring training camp in Limerick has been a great success for the Equestrian squad. Breda Bernie, Eilish Byrne, Liza Landau and myself have spent the week training once or twice every day, and fitting in PCI talks and meetings around training.
All four of us have improved and it was great to get some lessons from Donie McNamara on my new mount, Eliza (who is emerging as my No. 1 horse). Grade II rider Eilish and her new horse are forming a strong partnership which looks good for the future. It's great to meet up with other elite disabled athletes who compete in a variety of sports, and to get together with the other riders.
Me, mum and the horses don't arrive home until 11th April - just time for a couple of days rest before Vale View on the 15th!
Vale View World Championship Qualifier
I took both horses to Vale View on 15th April. I used the Elem 44 as a warm up for the World Champ qualifier and came 2nd on Indi in the Open section.
There was hot competition in the Grade III qualifier and Simon Laurens won the class just ahead of Debbie Criddle and I was 3rd on Eliza and 4th on Indi so was very pleased. I know that there is plenty for me to improve on with Eliza - particularly the difference between working and medium paces but she is getting better all the time, and I have only had her a couple of months.
We have now decided that I will aim to take Eliza to Austria at the end of May. If she goes well there, I will be riding her at the World Championships at Hartpury. Indi is still going well and it's great to think I have a reliable second horse in case of lameness etc.
See full results from Vale View para classes on 15th April.
Plans for 2007
Here are my plans for 2007 from April - July. I will also be competing in British Dressage Elementary tests with Indi and Eliza, whenever I get chance.
Paralympic Council of Ireland Training Camp
5 - 8 Apr, Limerick
Para World Championship Qualifier
15 Apr, Vale View EC
Paralympic Qualifier
31 May - 3 June, Kreuttal, Austria
KBIS Qualifiers
23 June, Northern Equestrian
1 July, Vale View EC
11 July, Myerscough
*2007 World Para Dressage Championships*
16 - 22 July, Hartpury
I am hoping I will be chosen to attend the Paralympic Council of Ireland's acclimatisation camp in Beijing during August, and will find out if I am going sometime in May.