15
Annual Report 2012
HORSE SPORT IRELAND
London 2012 Par
alympics
London 2012 Paralympic Games 30th August - 4th September 2012 - Para Dressage - Chef d'Equipe: Dara Kearney/
Triona Connors
Rider
Horse
Grade
Team
Test 1
Championship
Test/Team Test 2
Placing Ind.
Freestyle Test
Placing
1
Helen Kearney
Mister
Cool
(ISH)
1a
72.235
76.7
2nd = Silver
78.45
3rd = Bronze
2
Geraldine Savage Blues Tip
Top Too
1a
68
68.8
7th
72.3
5th
3
Eilish Byrne
Youri
II
67.15
73.429
5th
75.25
4th
4
James Dwyer
Orlando
IV
69.149
68.516
6th
74.4
6th
Team
Total:
428.313
3rd = Bronze
Team Veterinarian: Patrick Meagher Coach: Donie McNamara
Bronze medal winning Irish Paralympic Equestrian Team.
Helen Kearney & Mister Cool (ISH) during
their test at the London Paralympics.
Signifi cantly, Ireland qualifi ed a para dressage team
for the Paralympic Games for the fi rst time in 2012.
The team made fantastic progress in 2010 under Team
Manager Avril O'Byrne. In 2011, when Naomi Donoghue
took over as Team Manager, they fi nished second in
the team competition at Hartpury, recording Ireland's
best result in para equestrian competition up to that
point and moving Ireland up in the world rankings.
This ultimately qualifi ed the team for the London 2012
Paralympics.
In 2012 a system was set down by HSI and
Paralympics Ireland which meant that the four riders
who secured the best four scores over three specifi ed
international competitions would be selected for the
Games. While this was rigid, it meant that internal
competition for places remained strong.
The team of Eilish Byrne, James Dwyer, Helen
Kearney and Geraldine Savage achieved selection and
travelled to the Games with Chef d'Equipe Dara Kearney
and Team Coach Donie McNamara. Pat Meagher was
appointed Team Veterinarian.
In the fi rst Individual test all four team members
put in outstanding performances. In the second
Championship test all four riders put in further
outstanding performances. On an unforgettable day
in Greenwich, Helen Kearney won an Individual silver
medal and the Irish Team won Team bronze. Two days
later Helen Kearney won a further Individual bronze in
the Freestyle competition.
Paralympic Dressage
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