With the Paralympics now done and dusted, I thought it would
be a great time to take a look back at the highlights of the Equestrian events.
The equestrian events were held in the manicured parkland of
Greenwich Park in south-east London. As I sat in my seat I was breath-taken by
the fantastic views of Canary Wharf, the City and much of London's fascinating
skyline.
I was lucky enough to get tickets to both the Olympic show
jumping as a graduation present and the Paralympic dressage. Although watching
Great Britain win silver in the show jumping brought tears to my eyes, that was
nothing compared to how I felt when Sophie Christiansen took gold on the final day
of the Paralympics.
The atmosphere throughout the whole afternoon was absolutely
electric. From chanting to clapping, to Mexican waves, the crowd was simply
going wild and I am sure by the end there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd.
“So before we get started, what’s the difference between the
grades?”
Athletes are
classified according to their functional ability when mounted across five
grades (Ia, Ib, II, III and IV). The grading determines the complexity of the
movements riders perform with their horses during their tests, ensuring that
the tests are judged on the skill of the rider, regardless of their impairment.
Riders may use permitted assistive devices such as dressage whips, connecting
rein bars looped reins, and so on. Riders who have visual impairments are
permitted to use ‘callers’ to help them navigate around the arena.
- Grade Ia riders are usually wheelchair users with impairment of all four limbs. They may be able to walk, but this is usually with an unsteady gait due to difficulties with balance and trunk stability.
- Grade Ib riders are similar to Grade Ia in that they are mainly wheelchair users. They must have poor trunk balance and/or impairment of all four limbs. Some riders will have both, but some will have just one of the two listed impairments.
- Grade II riders are often wheelchair users. Riders in this grade can have severe impairment involving the trunk but with good or mild upper limb function, or can have severe arm impairment and slight leg impairment, or can have severe degree of impairment down one side.
- Grade III riders are usually able to walk without support but may require a wheelchair for longer distances. Riders can have moderate unilateral impairment, moderate impairment of all four limbs, or severe arm impairment. Blind riders compete in this category but must wear blacked-out glasses or a blindfold. Riders who have learning disability also compete in this category at non-Paralympic level.
- Grade IV riders have an impairment of one of two limbs or a visual impairment at B2 level.
Riders with just a hearing impairment or who have a visual impairment at B3 or B4 level are not eligible to compete at a Paralympic Games in Para-Dressage. Riders with recovering or deteriorating conditions such as MS are eligible but must have been reclassified within six months of a World Championships or Paralympic Games to ensure their classification is correct.
- Grade Ia riders are usually wheelchair users with impairment of all four limbs. They may be able to walk, but this is usually with an unsteady gait due to difficulties with balance and trunk stability.
- Grade Ib riders are similar to Grade Ia in that they are mainly wheelchair users. They must have poor trunk balance and/or impairment of all four limbs. Some riders will have both, but some will have just one of the two listed impairments.
- Grade II riders are often wheelchair users. Riders in this grade can have severe impairment involving the trunk but with good or mild upper limb function, or can have severe arm impairment and slight leg impairment, or can have severe degree of impairment down one side.
- Grade III riders are usually able to walk without support but may require a wheelchair for longer distances. Riders can have moderate unilateral impairment, moderate impairment of all four limbs, or severe arm impairment. Blind riders compete in this category but must wear blacked-out glasses or a blindfold. Riders who have learning disability also compete in this category at non-Paralympic level.
- Grade IV riders have an impairment of one of two limbs or a visual impairment at B2 level.
Riders with just a hearing impairment or who have a visual impairment at B3 or B4 level are not eligible to compete at a Paralympic Games in Para-Dressage. Riders with recovering or deteriorating conditions such as MS are eligible but must have been reclassified within six months of a World Championships or Paralympic Games to ensure their classification is correct.
What struck me as I watched each rider enter the arena is
that no rider is the same; each has a disability that despite having to live
with is still as brave and determined to aim for that gold medal position.
Lee Pearson and Natasha Baker were just two of the riders on
the British team to bring home medals. I was surprised whilst listening to the commentary
that a lot of riders were left disabled because of some form of riding
accident, bike, car or even motorbike accident.
Whilst we cannot even begin to imagine what it must feel
like thinking you will never ride, let alone walk again, each and every rider
that entered that arena were all as inspirational as the last and deserved to
be there.
One rider that can empathise with all of them is Claire
Lomas, a talented event rider that was left paralysed after a freak accident
whilst competing at Osberton Horse Trials in May 2007.
I caught up with Claire and found out her thoughts on the Paralympics.
“Everyone’s achievement is fantastic, both in the Paralympics
and Olympics – I have equal respect for all of the competitors, they are all
amazing.”
Many people I have spoken to have commented on both how hard
but enjoyable it has been to watch the Paralympics. One particular person I
caught up with said it was difficult the varying forms of disabilities shown on
television. When I asked Claire her thoughts on this she only had positive
things to say.
“I have only heard good reports to be fair. These are
active, determined, dedicated athletes and I think most people have seen them
as that.”
Despite wanting to applaud and show my encouragement to each
individual rider, the crowd were told not to unless instructed to by the
riders. This was so it did not spook or startle the horses in case riders weren’t
able to hold them.
Instead we were told to wave at the riders and if they gave
us an instruction to clap, then we could. Although we were able to once they
were back with their trainers and out of the field of play.
Whilst it was strange not applauding a rider that had just
performed a beautiful test, it simply emphasised the hard work and dedication
they had clearly gone through to be there.
I enjoyed how accessible the Paralympics were to everybody,
tickets were cheaper and for those that didn’t already have them, 1000 more
became available on the day, making it both more affordable and available to everyone.
Tickets did not have reserved seats, instead you could chose
where you sat and if you wanted different views from throughout the day you
could move to another vacant seat. Initially I thought this would cause a
problem but thankfully I didn’t hear any grumbles bout the seating arrangements
and I was lucky enough to get right at the front where the parents of the
riders were sat!
Deborah Criddle on Akilles, riding for Great Britain took
second in the Grade III individual test to start the afternoon off with what
was a fantastically ridden test that was a pleasure to watch.
The crowd went wild on Criddle leaving the arena and British
flags were flying everywhere. The 46 year-old, who had her right arm amputated
in 2003 after losing the use of it in a motorcycle accident in 1985.
In the afternoon the crowd were treated to an amazing ride
by Sophie Christiansen whose score was clearly unbeatable and almost 11% above
second place for quite some time.
Christiansen, 24, was born with cerebral palsy and had other
health problems including jaundice, blood poisoning, a heart attack and a
collapsed lung. She took up riding at the age of six through Riding for the
Disabled, and what had begun as physiotherapy eventually became her life’s
passion.
When the last riders score was confirmed and wasn’t a patch
on Christiansen’s the crowd were mesmerised and stood to give her a standing
ovation as she departed the field of play.
The whole arena was covered with British flags and I would
be surprised if there was a dry eye in the whole of the crowd as they all went
wild.
Natasha Baker, Lee Pearson, Deborah Criddle, Sophie Wells
and Sophie Christiansen were all in their own ways deserving medallists.
Between them they brought home 11 medals, consisting of 5 golds, 5 silvers and
1 bronze.
The great, Lee Pearson has won nine Paralympics gold medals
at three successive Games, along with six world titles. He has a remarkable 100
percent success rate in Paralympic competition.
Having been to both the Olympics and Paralympics I was
absolutely thrilled with how successful and well they were both ran. The
opportunity to watch our fantastic athletes compete and even come home with
medals in our home country was one I will never forget. Wiping away a tear as I
shouted, chanted and stood for Christiansen to take her Gold I had no other
feeling at that very moment than being both proud and honoured to be British.
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