Para riders shine at championships

There was impressive action from para riders in the Horsezone.co.uk British Showjumping National Championships.

Deena Webster, who also competes in intermediate eventing and 1.15m show jumping, won the 90cm National Para Equestrian Grade III Championship with Matetsi. Deena had a motorbike accident in 1993 and it wasn’t for 2 ½ years following the accident before she could walk again unaided.

Having achieved double clears in every competition this year, eleven-year-old Flossie England won the 80cm National Para Equestrian Grade III Championship riding Glad Your Mine. Flossie has suffered from Erb’s Palsy and has partial paralysis of her right arm and her right shoulder, but undeterred by this Flossie learnt to ride at the age of four.

In the 80cm National Para Equestrian Grade II, Toby Bevins took both first and second place riding Baloe V and Askan Van Overis respectively. Toby was born with a considerable part of hisbrain as malformed which rendered him hemiplegic with weakness down his right-hand side. He also suffers from dyspraxia and has epilepsy, but this does not stop him from enjoying his horses.

Karen Bostock took the title in the 70cm National Para Equestrian Grade I riding Rossini IV. Having ridden since she was three, and ran a successful competition yard, tragically, Karen was in a near-fatal car accident which left her with severe injuries to her torso. After 20 years out of the saddle she found Rossini, the same time para show jumping started, so she took the opportunity to give it a go and has never looked back.

Ronnie Robinson who is severely visually impaired won the 60cm National Para Club Equestrian Grade IV riding Ardcarrig Snowball. Ronnie’s dream is to compete in the Para Olympics, so he can inspire others to follow their dreams and not let anything get in their way.

The 70cm National Para Club Equestrian Grade IV was the final class in the Championship which was won by Jessica Dries aboard ex-national hunt horse Moraco Springs. Jessica is visually impaired and has been riding most of her life.

(Picture Credits: 1st Class Images)