Three Top Tens For Irish Para At World Equestrian Games

News Desk — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:07:59 +0000

IRISH riders scored three top ten places in their respective tests on the second day (Tuesday) of Para Equestrian at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Paralympic multi-medallist Helen Kearney and the Irish Sport Horse Mister Cool finished seventh in the Grade 1a Team Test on a score of 68.304 per cent. The competition was won by Italy’s Sara Morganti and Royal Delight with 75.783 per cent.

Kearney and her grey gelding will compete again in Thursday’s Individual Test, starting at 16.25 pm.

James Dwyer and the bay gelding Orlando also finished seventh with 68.238 per cent in the Grade IV team test. Victory in the competition went to Britain’s Sophie Wells with Valerius on 74.595 per cent.

Dwyer and Orlando will compete in Thursday’s Individual Test, starting at 09.11 am.

In the Grade II Team Test, Kate Kerr-Horan and her bay mare Arlande finished ninth on 67.647 per cent in a competition that was won by Britain’s Natasha Baker and Cabral on a score of 73.647. Kerr-Horan competes again on Thursday, with her test beginning at 12.54 pm.

Breda Bernie, who suffered an unfortunate elimination yesterday with the Irish Sport Horse Master Mexico, will be last to compete in tomorrow’s Grade 1b Individual test at 14.52 pm.

In Dressage, Ireland finished the Games in 22nd team position today and will not qualify for further competitions. Roland Tong and Pompidou scored 66.900 per cent, while Anna Merveldt with Vancouver completed on a score of 64.800. James Connor and Casino Royal finished on 62.357 per cent, while Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K were the team discard score on 61.086 per cent. The Team Classification today was won by Germany.

Ireland previously fielded dressage teams at the World Equestrian Games in 1998 (Rome) and 2002 (Jerez de la Frontera).

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy brings together close to 1,000 riders and 1,000 horses from 74 nations for 15 days of world-class competition. The World Equestrian Games take place every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, and are administered by the world governing body, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

Irish Para Equestrian Team Takes Third at Deauville Nations Cup

News Desk — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:51:43 +0000

ON THEIR first competitive outing since winning multiple medals at the London Paralympics, Ireland’s para dressage team took a third place at the Nations’ Cup in Deauville, France at the weekend.

Ireland, driven by Helen Kearney and Geraldine Savage in the Grade Ia class, after three days of competition found themselves on the podium alongside winners Great Britain and runners-up Denmark.

In Friday’s Nations Cup Grade 1a test, Helen Kearney took second place with Mr. Cool on scores of 70.522 per cent and 71.261, with Geraldine Savage close behind in third on Blue Tip Top Too, scoring 69.565 per cent and 68.261.

In Grade IV James Dwyer and Orlando were also seventh on 67.310 and 66.048, with Rosemary Gaffney and Aldham Mill Dubloon in eighth, scoring 67.095 and 66.81. Ireland’s top three performances were counted for the Nations’ Cup.

In the Grade III test Kate Kerr Horan and Terence Hill, competing individually for the first time at the more demanding Grade III level, had a creditable seventh placed finish on 61.447 per cent, while in Sunday’s Freestyle test Helen Kearney took second on 75.900 per cent, with Geraldine Savage fifth on 71.750 with Blue Tip Top Too.

Participation in the Deauville competition is part of the Horse Sport Ireland Para Equestrian High Performance plan, in preparation for the Para Equestrian Dressage European Championships at Herning in Denmark on 19- 25 August 2013.

Colin McClelland, Horse Sport Ireland Release

Equestrian News NI » para equestrian

Three Top Tens For Irish Para At World Equestrian Games

Irish Para Equestrian Team Takes Third at Deauville Nations Cup