From British Dressage Wales Newsletter:
I can proudly announce that Wales got the hat-trick at the Para Home International!!! This is such an achievement to have the top para team 3 years running! We sent 2 teams from Wales who were accompanied by our Para Rep and Chef D'equipe Veronica Bower. Veronica has worked tirelessly to ensure that all team members were trained up and motivated for the event. I was not at the show but I had the message Saturday night that Wales were in 2nd place overnight so it was a real nail biting affair!
After 2 days of competition, our winning team was Wales Snowdonia which comprised of the same 4 riders as the previous 2 years. The team finished on a grand score of 424.84 which was a whole 7 percent higher that the 2nd placed team. On the lead up to the show we were unsure if team member Julia Horton's horse would be sound. Thankfully Julia was able to compete on affectionately named Joyce (Premier Joyfull Moon). Joyce is a home bred mare and was originally bred as a lightweight hunter but has adapted into dressage exceptionally well. Julia loves her horse very much and says she is a pleasure to own and handle.
Fellow Snowdonia team mate was Denise Smith who after starting her para journey at an RDA Centre has just represented Wales for the 5th time. Denise rode the 18 year old, British Warmblood, Sheepcote Catkin. Lorna Lee (Wales Snowdonia Team) also came from an RDA background and has been riding all her life. Lorna's horse Midnight is a 7 year old Warmblood which she has owned since December.
Georgia Wilson successfully managed to ride on both teams with Caraca for Wales Snowdonia and Lordanos Lover for Wales Cambrian. Georgia will go on to compete at the KBIS Gold Championship Semi-Final: Wellington PL, Hants this Wednesday.
Our other Welsh team, Wales Cambrian were placed 6th overall in the team event. After losing team member Leonie Saffy at the last hour due to a lame horse, this team of 3 fully deserved their place in the line up. Leonie Saffy attended the show to support the teams and also was presented with the Welsh Para Rider of the Year Award for all of her efforts and accomplishments over the past year.
This year we welcomed Janette Edwards (Wales Cambrian Team) from South Wales who is new to para team events. Jan was on board an 8 year old, Irish Sports Horse Mare, Lates Diamond. Jan commented after the show that she had a lovely time and experienced the ups and downs we get with riding but was glad that she finished on an up. Jan said that if her and 'Buzz' are lucky enough to be selected again, she will be more relaxed from this weekend's experience! Another Cambrian representative was Rowan Crosby riding Kilmazing Tiger Lily. Rowan is a grade 1b rider from Wrexham.
We would like to thank British Dressage Wales who we work in partnership with our para riders in Wales. The funding from us helps us create a variety of training in the region for our para riders.
