The finishing touches are being applied in Ermelo as the Irish Para Dressage team prepare for the European Championships this week.
Horses and riders have touched down in The Netherlands, have settled in and veterinary inspections passed. Excitement and nervous anticipation is building but the Irish are confident of doing themselves justice.
Simone Hession’s team of Paralympian Jess McKenna and Angela Lyons, as well as teenagers Katie Reilly and Clodagh Walsh, have taken everything in their stride as they build towards day one of action tomorrow – all that’s left to do now is compete.
“There is a positive mood in the camp,” said Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Para Dressage Manager, Hession.
“We started travelling over the weekend and arrived safely here in Ermelo yesterday (Monday). The horses have settled in and are in great form, and the girls are all excited to get going.
“Trot-up went very well this morning – we had no issues – so it’s all systems go for tomorrow. A huge amount of credit must go to Seamus McSorley for the preparartion he did with the athletes and their horses. This ensured that everything went perfectly this morning.
“Clodagh and Chantal will compete in the Grade I category, with Jess and D.C.I Cerrutti, and Katie with Keystone Dawn Chorus in Grade III and Angela with Woodcroft Santa Cruz in Grade IV.”
Off the back of an impressive season to date, hopes will be high in the camp that Ireland’s combinations can make an impressive both individually and in team competition.
While Hession is not making any medal predictions just yet, she is hopeful of some high scores.
“That’s what we’re here for – to put our best foot forward and achieve the highest possible position. We have a very young squad, though, and we must remember that.
“Katie and Clodagh have been performing brilliantly and that’s refelected in their Under-18 world ranking, where they’re number one and two in the world.
“Angela has a depth of experience, having been in the sport for so many years, and Jess knows what it means to be in a major championship having competed in Paris last year, but the main thing is that they all stay relaxed, give themselves every opportunity to do their best, and enjoy it!”
Walsh, Reilly and McKenna will compete tomorrow afternoon in the Para Grand Prix A Individual Final and First Individual Qualifier for the Grand Prix Freestyle, while Lyons is in the arena on Thursday for her first outing of the week.
The competetion will be broadcast live on FEI TV and we will keep Irish fans updated across our social media channels as it happens.