Wicklow duo aiming to secure Irish team spot
TWO Wicklow para equestrian riders are aiming to gain a place on the Irish team that travels to the Paraolympic Games in 2012 for the first time ever.
IT WAS recently confirmed by the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) that the Irish Para Equestrian team have secured a team place for Ireland at the Paralympic Games for the first time in its history.
Wicklow's Helen Kearney from Dunlavin and Tinahely's Kate Kerr Horan are the Garden County riders who will be seeking two places on the team as they bid for Paraolympic glory.
Helen, a full time rider, was diagnosed with Friedreichs Ataxia at the age of 12. It's a debilitating life shortening neuromuscular disorder. It causes progressive loss of coordination and muscle strength in the arms and legs leading to full time use of a wheelchair.
Despite her grim diagnosis Helen wasn't put off riding. In fact it has helped Helen to keep healthy and mobile. Until the age of 18 she competed with her local pony and riding club, enjoying dressage, show jumping and cross-country. Since then, Helen has turned to dressage, a safer option given her worsening health. She began to compete at para equestrian events in 2008. She started off as Grade III, but is now Grade 1a.
Helen rides Mister Cool, a 12 year-old gelding by Coolcorran Cool Diamond and in September 2011 she claimed Ireland's first ever European Para Equestrian bronze medal. She just missed out on another medal, finishing 4th in the Freestyle with a personal best score of 73.35%. 2011 was a great year for Helen where she got off to a flying start winning both team and freestyle tests at Deauville, France. She was also a member of the second placed team in Hartpury, England and Breda, Netherlands, where individually she finished fourth in the Grade 1a team test.
Kate, a student, has been riding from a young age but an accident at the age of three resulted in her being disabled. Despite this for years she competed with the Pony Club at various events. She got involved with Para Equestrian Ireland in 2007. She competes at Grade II level.
The Tinahely native rides Terence Hill, an 11year-old gelding from Danish Warmblood. In 2008 Kate, who competes with the high-performance squad, competed at Millfield in England and placed fourth. She has also competed at Hartpury several times and more recently picked up three top-15 placings at the British venue.
