New faces and a former British team horse are among those named on the Irish squad for the European Para Dressage Championships (3–7 September).
Horse Sport Ireland high performance para dressage manager Simone Hession has chosen “a blend of youth and experience” to travel to Ermelo, the Netherlands.
The team features the top two ranked riders in the under-18 world para dressage rankings; 17-year-old Katie Reilly who will bring forward Natasha Baker’s former top ride Keystone Dawn Chorus, and 16-year-old Clodagh Walsh, who rides her own Chantal.
Katie, Clodagh and Angela Lyons (Woodcroft Santa Cruz) are all making their championship debut. Jessica McKenna was on the Paris Paralympic team and rode at the 2023 Europeans, but will ride a new championships partner in D.C.I Cerruti.
Irish team for European Para Dressage Championships
The selected riders for the Irish team at the European Para Dressage Championships, in order of grades, is:
Grade I
Clodagh Walsh and 16-year-old mare Chantal
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Owner: Alan Walsh
Breeder: Hans-Hermann Maack
Breeding: by Christ 3, out of a mare by Del Piero
Grade III
Jessica McKenna and 14-year-old gelding D.C.I Cerruti
Owners: Elder Klatzjo and Emma and Jessica McKenna
Breeder: Raimund Vorwerk
Breeding: by Christ 3, and out of Fariane
Katie Reilly and 14-year-old mare Keystone Dawn Chorus
Owners: Kathleen Heavey, John Norcross, and Brendan and Karen Reilly
Breeder: S Lavendera
Breeding: By Dimaggio, out of a mare by Escudo 19
Grade IV
Angela Lyons with 17-year-old gelding Woodcroft Santa Cruz
Owner: rider
Breeder: Karl-Heinz Flach
Breeding: By Sandro Hit, out of a mare by Airport
Non-travelling reserve:
Grade III
Kate Kerr-Horan with 10-year-old gelding Lykkebo’s Don Akino
Owner: Ted Horan, Pam and Kate Kerr-Horan, and Loui Porter
Breeder: Helle Muller
Breeding: By Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, out of a mare by Michellino
“With the athletes selected it gives us the opportunity to field a team of rising young talent, with Clodagh at her first major championships, Katie and Jessica both on new horses for the Europeans and Angela brings forward a depth of experience of being involved in the sport for so long,” said Simone Hession.
“I’d like to thank all the athletes’ teams, team vet Seamus Mc Sorley and Horse Sport Ireland for their continued support.”
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
