Irish Dressage team finish 12th overall at Paralympic Games in Tokyo

  • 29 August 2021, 12:39

The Irish Dressage team have completed their campaign at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, finishing in 12th place overall in the team competition.

Michael Murphy and Cleverboy (pictured) got Ireland off to a good start on Saturday, scoring 75.179% in the Grade I test and they were followed by Kate Kerr-Horan and Serafina T who scored 65.676% in Grade III. The final member of the Irish team, Tamsin Addison and Fahrenheit scored 66.232% in the Grade V team test on Sunday.

That left Ireland on a final score of 207.176. Britain claimed the gold medal on 229.905 just a fraction ahead of The Netherlands who took silver on 229.249 while USA collected the bronze on 224.352.

Horse Sport Ireland Para Dressage High Performance Director Debora Pijpers said:

I’m very happy that Horse Sport Ireland and Paralympics Ireland supported us in order to be in Tokyo with a complete Irish para dressage team. I’m very proud of all the riders. All of them showed improvements during the competition. Michael Murphy showed amazing sportsmanship. After an unfortunate slipping of the right rein during his individual test, he rode a very strong team test that was rewarded with a score of 75.179%. During the competition Tamsin Addison showed great improvements in the collection and uphills. Kate Kerr Horan showed the talent of her mare Serafina T in the extended walk and in the expression in trot. Rosemary Gaffney and Werona showed a nice, light and uphill way of going. Of course we are all aware of the improvements that we would still like to make. But to be with an Irish team at the Paralympics is for sure a very inspiring and motivational step in the good direction.”