Paralympic gold medal-winning dressage rider Simon Laurens has been named the Disabled Sports Person of the Year at the Gloucestershire Media Sports Awards.
Simon, who has lived in Gloucestershire for three years, was honoured along with 11 other athletes at an awards ceremony at Cheltenham racecourse last Thursday, 25 November.
The rider team gold and individual silver at the Beijing Paralympics last summer. To top that, Simon was part of the British gold-medal winning team at the 2009 Para Dressage European Championships in Norway.
“I was very surprised with the award,” said Simon.
“I had no idea I had been put forward but it’s fantastic to be recognised, especially on home ground.
“This award is great for paradressage and dressage in general. Recognition like this can only help advance awareness and support of the sport.”
The awards were presented by Hartpury College principle Malcolm Wharton.
