Rihards Snikus won Latvia’s first equestrian Paralympic gold medal with King Of The Dance, in the individual grade I. The part-time DJ and the appropriately named 16-year-old scored 79.18% to stand on top of the podium. Rihards, who is also a DJ, and King Of The Dance have been together for eight years. “It was a really beautiful performance,” said Darja Tihomriova on behalf of Rihards. “We were worried about the technical elements, but I think it was one of their best performances, and a great result.”
Britain’s Mari Durward-Akhurst qualified for the freestyle on her Paralympic debut, scoring 71.79% to finish sixth with Athene Lindebjerg in the grade I individual test in Versailles. “It was a lot of pressure,” the world number one said. “This morning was a nightmare, I was getting myself in a bit of a state, trying to find things to do to keep myself occupied. But once I got on her and she went into that arena I just knew she was going to look after me. I was trying to hold back the tears when I went into the arena, it was just incredible.”
The Defender Burghley Horse Trials dressage starts tomorrow (5 September) with its usual stellar line-up of equine and human stars. If you’re not planning to travel to the event but still want to keep up with all the action, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how you can watch, plus who will be commentating, and how to follow all the news as it happens with H&H.
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
