Irish group named for European Para Dressage Championships

New faces and a former British group horse are amongst these named on the Irish squad for the European Para Dressage Championships (3–7 September).

Horse Sport Eire excessive efficiency para dressage supervisor Simone Hession has chosen “a mix of youth and expertise” to journey to Ermelo, the Netherlands.

The group options the highest two ranked riders within the under-18 world para dressage rankings; 17-year-old Katie Reilly who will deliver ahead Natasha Baker’s former prime experience Keystone Daybreak Refrain, and 16-year-old Clodagh Walsh, who rides her personal Chantal.

Katie, Clodagh and Angela Lyons (Woodcroft Santa Cruz) are all making their championship debut. Jessica McKenna was on the Paris Paralympic group and rode on the 2023 Europeans, however will experience a brand new championships companion in D.C.I Cerruti.

Irish group for European Para Dressage Championships

The chosen riders for the Irish group on the European Para Dressage Championships, so as of grades, is:

Grade I

Clodagh Walsh and 16-year-old mare ChantalOwner: Alan WalshBreeder: Hans-Hermann MaackBreeding: by Christ 3, out of a mare by Del Piero

Grade III

Jessica McKenna and 14-year-old gelding D.C.I CerrutiOwners: Elder Klatzjo and Emma and Jessica McKennaBreeder: Raimund VorwerkBreeding: by Christ 3, and out of Fariane

Katie Reilly and 14-year-old mare Keystone Daybreak ChorusOwners: Kathleen Heavey, John Norcross, and Brendan and Karen ReillyBreeder: S LavenderaBreeding: By Dimaggio, out of a mare by Escudo 19

Grade IV

Angela Lyons with 17-year-old gelding Woodcroft Santa CruzOwner: riderBreeder: Karl-Heinz FlachBreeding: By Sandro Hit, out of a mare by Airport

Non-travelling reserve:

Grade III

Kate Kerr-Horan with 10-year-old gelding Lykkebo’s Don AkinoOwner: Ted Horan, Pam and Kate Kerr-Horan, and Loui PorterBreeder: Helle MullerBreeding: By Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, out of a mare by Michellino

“With the athletes chosen it offers us the chance to subject a group of rising younger expertise, with Clodagh at her first main championships, Katie and Jessica each on new horses for the Europeans and Angela brings ahead a depth of expertise of being concerned within the sport for thus lengthy,” mentioned Simone Hession.

“I’d prefer to thank all of the athletes’ groups, group vet Seamus Mc Sorley and Horse Sport Eire for his or her continued help.”

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has lined a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and highway security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed prime riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call only a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fortress Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to residence. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting group for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.