Hello People, I hope you are all well. I have just had the best weekend ever. I was competing at Dressage Irelands National Championships which took place at Necarne Castle in Irvinstown, Co Fermanagh. We all headed of in convoy on Thursday 20th Sept at 9am. Niall my trainer took his horse Frodo and Youri. Rachel took her horse Teraldo, Kevin took Nicolas horse PD, Jan took her horses Monty and Billy and I took all the gear in my box.

We got to Necarne about 2.30 and we all got sorted with stables. The stable manager turned out to be Paddy. Paddy came to Belgium with Para Equestrian Ireland as a groom two years ago and I hadn't seen him since so that was a lovely surprise. Youri was stabled but would not settle and so Paddy very kindly found me another home for my horse and we settled ourselves in. I tacked up Youri and Niall rode him and then I did. We settled him for the night and went and had dinner about 9 and a party afterwards which was great fun.

Friday 21st - I was on at 2.07. I got Youri tacked up and ready for Niall. He went really well for Niall and I. We ended up 7th with 62%. I was competing against 38 able bodied riders at elementary level so I was happy enough. Youri was still very unsettled in his stable and good old Paddy came to the rescue and moved us once more, to be near the other horses that Youri knew and he settled down at last. I then went to offer my services at the office and ended up calling competitors from the warm up ring to the competition ring for two hours.

Saturday 22nd - I was on at 12.55. Niall warmed Youri up for me again. Youri was great we rode a good test. We got 65% and ended up in 5th place. I helped out for an hour in the office and then we all had showers and went for dinner and prise giving. I got a rosette for my 5th place and I ended up 5th overall in the Championships and got another rosette and 60 euro. I was thrilled to bits and we partied in to the early hours!

Sunday we watched the grand prix and then packed up for home and loaded the horses. I slept for a while in the afternoon and Jan and Gemma and I left about 5.30 and got back to the yard at 10. A great weekend was had by all.

Hi all, please note I have just discovered how to upload pictures on to my blog and have got carried away with it all. Hope to have many more to show you along with the people and the animals in my life.

This is Youri and I doing a dressage demonstration at the Horse Show in Dublin in Aug 2007.

This is us at the World Para Dressage Championships in July 2007. Pictures kindly supplied by www.jumpingaround.com

Hi Everyone

I am back home in good old Ireland a week now. Life has been hectic since then. I stayed with Helen on Sunday night, Helens husband Jim and their kids Kyle and Dean picked me up from the airport. Monday I drove to Armagh to check my post and got back to Helens Monday evening. Tuesday I made my way back to Arklow and I had lessons Wednesday and Thursday. Niall my trainer had been riding Youri and he was in good form and I got out for a hack each day. Paul entered me for the elementary at the Marlton Summer Festival which took place Saturday and Sunday. I got 68% in my first test and won and 59.66% in my second test. Sunday I rode one test and got 62% and came third. I was delighted with my win as it was an able bodied competition and only the second time I rode an elementary test on Youri. Youri was such a good boy! I managed to get into the National Championships which take place in two weeks time so its all go and lots of work to be done. On Saturday I did a radio interview with a gentleman called Jim from Wexford local radio. I will keep you posted.