Leading Para Dressage rider Kathryn Wheelock recently returned from the CPDI 4 star event in Moorsele, Belgium where she represented Ireland on her schoolmaster dressage horse, Indi.  This was one of the few Paralympic Qualifiers so there were competitors from as far away as Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Canada, United States and Hong Kong, together with riders from GB and many other European countries. 

In order to compete at the Paralympics riders must first achieve over 60% at one of these qualifiers, so in Belgium there were nearly 100 riders all striving to achieve the magical 60% to gain Paralympic qualification.  Kathryn achieved over 65% to gain 7th place out of 24 riders in one of her tests – easily exceeding the qualifying threshold.  However, achieving this level does not give you an automatic place in at Beijing 2008 – far from it!  There will only be places for 78 riders who will be selected from qualified riders in all disability grades and from all corners of the world, in order to ensure that all continents and levels are evenly represented. 

At this moment in time Ireland has three riders who have achieved well over the 60% threshold.  Ireland is aiming to qualify a team of 4 riders for the Paralympics, but in the event that a team does not qualify, the riders will be relying on their individual rankings to get them a place.  So far three of the Irish riders are ranked in the top 10 in their disability grade, which gives them all a very realistic chance of selection.

2007 is already mapped out for Kathryn and includes at least two Paralympic Training Camps in Limerick, another Paralympic Qualifier (to improve on her marks and ranking!) in Austria, and a possible 10 days acclimatisation camp in China in August.  The icing on the cake would be to be selected for the Irish team to ride at the World Para Dressage Championships in Hartpury, Gloucestershire in July.  There could be over 130 disabled dressage riders taking part in this competition – probably the biggest of its kind ever staged in the world – so if you wants to be inspired, I advise you to note the dates (18th to 22nd July) and book your tickets – the grit and determination of these riders and the skill, level of riding and the quality of their horses are something to behold – see you there - we hope!

Thank you to everyone who has helped Kathryn to date and to recent support from Stuart Shopfitting, WOW Saddles, Horseware® Ireland and in 2007, John Whitaker International Ltd  We would also like to thank Joules Clothing and Portwest, Co Mayo for providing all the Irish riders with smart new uniforms– we are extremely appreciative of all help received.

Spend a little time on Kathryn’s web site if you would like learn more about what she does at www.para-equestrian.com and please contact us if you feel you can help in any way.

Tel: 01535 636008 or 01756 700802

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