PARALYMPIC GAMES: WICKLOW'S HELEN Kearney won the silver medal in the Grade 1a individual competition at Greenwich Park yesterday when riding her Irish Sport Horse gelding Mister Cool to a personal best score of 76.700 per cent.
The 23-year-old from Dunlavin has been competing in para dressage since 2004 and last year claimed bronze at the European Championships on Mister Cool, a 12-year-old grey by Coolcorran Cool Diamond.
Gold in the Grade 1s class went to Britain’s Sophie Christiansen, who achieved a score of 82.750 with Janeiro, while the bronze went to Singapore’s Laurentia Tan on Ruben James 2 (73.650). Ireland’s Geraldine Savage recorded a PB when finishing seventh on Blue Tip Top Too (68.800).
Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Walsh said: “I’d like to congratulate Helen Kearney for her fantastic achievement at Greenwich Park today, which was well deserved. It’s another great day for Irish equestrian sport.”
Kearney’s silver medal-winning performance saw Ireland claim team bronze behind Britain and Germany. “Today has been a remarkable achievement,” commented Walsh, “especially as this was the first year that Ireland had qualified a dressage team for the Paralympics. My congratulations go to everyone involved in this wonderful success.”
Yesterday morning, Kilkenny-born James Dwyer, riding Orlando, claimed sixth place in the Grade IV championships on 68.516, while Co Louth’s Eilish Byrne, with her chestnut gelding Youri, returned a score of 73.429 to place fifth in Saturday’s Grade II competition.
