Top 10 finishes for Kerr-Horan and McKenna at Paralympics

Kate Kerr-Horan and Lykkebo’s Don Akino return from the arena in Versailles after their Paralympics test

Ireland’s Para Dressage athletes began their Paralympics campaigns this morning with top 10 Grade III Individual finishes for Kate Kerr-Horan and Jessica McKenna.

Kerr-Horan was first into the arena on board Lykkebo’s Don Akino, with the combination scoring 65.867% at a rain-soaked Chateua De Versailles.

Fifth to go, the pair grew very well into their test and Kerr-Horan was delighted with Lykkebo’s Don Akino leaving the arena to a warm reception from the crowd, finishing ninth overall, just shy of qualification for Saturday’s Freestyle.

On her Paralympics debut, McKenna and Davidoff 188 scored an excellent 65.033%, which left them in 10th position overall and she cut a smiling figure afterwards.

High Performance Para Dressage Director Debora Pijpers was pleased with the two performances.

She said: “We’re very happy with both of the girls and their horses – they were very positive and showed some really nice movements.

“Their horses were with them and the riders gave it everything – I couldn’t have asked for more.

Jessica McKenna and Davidoff 188 return from the arena in Versailles after their Paralympics test

“Kate and Lykkebo’s Don Akino had a really good experience – they are still a very young combination, quite new to each other. I really wanted Kate to keep ‘Akino’ calm, relaxed and focused and she did that.

“It was a very consistent test with lots of fluent moments, and while it’s a little disappointing for her that she was just edged out of qualification for the Freestyle, she can be extremely proud of finishing ninth at the Paralympics.

“Jessica started really strongly with some excellent marks early on – she was very positive on Davidoff 188, riding very nicely.

“It was a little unfortunate that she dropped down a little, losing points at her leg yields and her walks but it was an excellent test on her Paralympics debut and with some little improvements to those areas this combination will be even better and it will all come together.

“Like Kate, Jessica showed some really promising moments and it’s great that she has also finished in the top 10 – I’m very proud.”