Paralympics Hong Kong day 6 and 7

Hello All, sorry for the delay in writing but had a few technical problems loging on.

Day 6 - was a good one, I was up for my ride at 8am and we went for a walk around the main arena or what they call the field of play, we got a day pass for Paul and and he came back to the hotel with us and we had a quick trip to the plaza across the road and then back to the hotel for lunch. The food isn't the best at the stables and so Paul made the most of his lunch. We then all piled into my room to get changed and get dressed up to meet the major of the village. We wore our ceramonial outfits and at 15.45 we met the lovely mayor and drank jasmin tea and had a chat and we got presents and had our pictures taken. We headed back to the stables as we were on at 6pm. We were in the indoor tonight and Niall rode and I rode, Youri was in great form. We share our training times with Omer and Dror from Isreal and their groom Lianne and we have great fun with them. We stayed on till about 10 with Paul and had good fun with the South Africans and the stewards. Of the team of stewards we have Gill (who broke Liza's horse Fantastic Elastic), Louise and Paul and Philip. They have been so good and so keen to help out and look after us they are great people. Niall and I headed back to the hotel and had some dinner and Isreal came to join us. Isreal have nobody coming to support them so we have offered to fly their flag for them.

Day 7, We headed for the stables at 8 and I got to go for a hack on the gallops which was fun. Niall and Paul and I got back to the hotel just before 11 and they went shopping across the road and I went off with the South Africans to Stanley market we had about an hour or so there and we got back about 3 and I went to the shopping centre and then Niall and I headed for the stables at 5.30. We rode in the outdoor arena tonight and Youri was good again. The Swiss trainer stopped me to compliment me on my riding and how much we have improved which was cool. We had to make our way back to the hotel and we met up with Nancy who is Technical Director of the Paralymic Council of Ireland. I looked around the lobby of the hotel and there was my scooter waiting for me which was great. We all had showers and headed for dinner and met up with Isreal and GB and Sinapore.

Paralympics Hong Kong 2008 day 5

Hi, Greetings to Jan, Ka, Verner, Ali and all your gang, great to hear from you, also greetings to Gerry, Mark, Aaron, Anne Marie and Darren and may we all be in London in 2012.YEAAAAAAAAA Hello to Anna and Richard and the Kids and thanks for a great night out in Rathdrum.

Well we had another long day. I was up at 6.30am had a shower and off to the stables at 7.30 on my man by 8.15 and walked around the competition arena for 40 mins he is very chilled out and I am not sure if it is the heat or what!! Afte we rode we met up with Luis our care assistant and we finally got back to the hotel about 11.30, we or Niall had lots of forms to sort out and he had to get a day pass to the hotel for Paul and then his insulin went wrong and he had to eat. We finally headed for the shoping mall to buy tickets for my family to get into the Paralympics. I also had an order for tickets for Gabrella from Sweden. We ended up on a big buying spree and I am afraid to tell you how much I spent today. I did buy a 13.6mp dig camera so you will be able to see as much as possible when I can work out how to use the bloody thing!! Peadar if you are reading this please get mum and dad to take as many pins over as possible please as Niall and Paul and I have run out already. We got back to the hotel about 2pm and we went for a sleep till 5.50 and me supposed to get the bus back to the stables at 6!! I made it but didnt look the part. Susanne the physio was working on Youri and when we got to the stables and she said he was in pretty good shape. Tonight we got to train in the competition arena and Niall rode for 15 mins and I rode for 20 mins and Youri was a dream come true. Afterwards I was walking round the main arena on a long rein drinking my bottle of water (Adeline I hope ur reading this)!! and he spooked on me and I near fell off I dropped the bottle of water all over his neck but he didn't take off thankfully. Susanne came to watch us and she was really pleased with Youri. Afterwards we went for dinner with Paul and Caroline. Niall and I got back to the hotel about 10.30 and we had our dinner with the Brits ie Lee and Dan and Ricky and the South Africans ie Katherin and Pippa and their physio. Had a great day, wish this could happen me every day. Love to all Eilish and hello to Susan my top class physio at home

Paralympics Hong Kong 2008 day 4

Hello, Greetings to Peadar, Anne and Emmet today, and thanks to Marion for her text message. Today I was up at 6.30, left for the stables for 7.30 and was riding by 8.15, we just walked, the heat in the morning is pretty severe and you can tell Youri feels it as well. Youri is getting more up beat which I dont know is a good thing or not. This morning we got in the main competition arena and I introduced him to the pandas hiding in the bushes but he didnt seam to mind. The crowd are alot closer to you than what you see on tv so I hope he will be ok. I was really tired today and after riding and having breakfast I got a bit emotional and headed to the bed at 11.30 and slept till 4.30 and had enough time to go to a tailor to see if I can get a jacket to fit me and headed back to the stables at 6.30 to ride at 7.15. We then had some craic with Team South Africa and went for dinner in the grooms dining quaters and its an experience not to be repeated!! We did some more socialising and got back to the village at 12. Thanks to all who have supported me. Greetings to Liam, Dee, Kate, Zara, Jan, Mags, Gemma, Wayne, Helen, Mary Anne, James, Margaret, Charlie, Setanta Choir, Dun Lughaidh Sec School, Geraldine and all her gang, Ray and Nula and Thresa and Lee and all the folk who have support me for so long. THANKS A MILL please let me know if I have missed anybody.

Paralympics Hong Kong 2008 day 3

Hi another good day was had. I was up at 6.30am left the village at 7.30 and was on my horse for 8.15. We did a short workout in the airconditioned arena which was grand considering the blistering heat outside!! The physio came and worked on Youri and then the vet came and checked out that Youri was Youri. We ie Niall and I then met up with two of our care assistants Triney and Martin and they came to the hotel with us along with Paul and we went to the local shopping centre and had some lunch and did some badly needed retail therapy!!! We had a kip back at the hotel and then I went to the gym and did my walk and had a swim and at 5.30 we got the bubble (its what the call the bus ere) back to the stables and I rode at 7.15 out doors for about 40 mins. We then sat with Paul and had a drink and headed back to the village about 9 and had some dinner and Team Isreal joined us and we had a great laugh with Dror and Omer.

Greetings to Rob thanks for text messages, Sandra, Jeff, Holly, and Denis hope you had a great holiday. Also greetings to Siobhan and Lianna and Chris in New Zealand and all the Fitzsimons. Thanks for all your good wishes love Eilish

Paul said Youri is getting lots of attention from other nations, they think hes a super looking boy.

Paralympics Hong Kong 2008 day 2

Hi, well had a good day today, was up at 9.30ish, went to the gym and then had a swim, went for some lunch and then had an afternoon nap. I was called about 3 to meet Benjamin who brought me a wheelchair and took my scooter off to see if it could be fixed. I met up with Niall who was at meetings most of the day and at 5.30 we headed off to the stables. Paul had him all tacked up and ready to go, Niall rode for a little bit and then I rode for about 10 mins. Youri is tired and feels like he needs an energy injection. He had a walkabout in the main arena (where they have Pandas hiding in bushes and the main screed is on) and Paul said he was fine and he had a walk into the cooling station and not a bother on him (actually we are just getting him checked to see if he still has a pulse!!) We had some fun trying on the gear from Horse Sport Ireland and we are fighting over who gets the jacket. We got back to the village about 9ish and had dinner with Lee and Dan (Team GBR). Its an early night tonight as I am on at 8 in the morn. Greetings to all in Dundalk and Arklow and Johnstown and Aughrim and Donegal, and to Helen and Jim and Dean and Kyle in Italy.

Paralympics - Hong Kong 2008

Greetings from Hong Kong can you believe it I am here!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I met up with Naill and family and friends at Dublin airport on the 27th at 7am. We (Niall and I) flew to Amsterdam and got a conecting flight to Hong Kong 3 hours later. Team Sweden, Denmark and Croatia were on the same flight as well as 11 Paralympic horses. We landed at in Hong Kong at 8am this morning, we were all greeted and brought to the Paralympic Village. It took the morning to sort out rooms and transport and assistance and just after 1pm local time we got to our rooms. I crashed for a few hours and then went to see Youri at the stables and I saw the main competition arena. The set up is fantastic the people are wonderful. My scooter wouldn't work when it got off the plane and the organisers are doing their best to get it sorted for me.

A big thanks to all for the kind messages, phonecalls, and text messages. I hope you will be proud of me xx

Hope to write everyday.

Hi all, once again long time no hear, I hope the world is well with you. My news, well time is motoring on and we are in full swing training and competing. I was at Marlton on the 28th of June and I did a medium test and got 62% which leaves me part qualified for the National Championships. I also did a para test and got 65%. I am due in Boswell on the 12th July to do another medium and a para test.

Paralympic news - well last Wednesday 2nd of July we had the official announcement of the Irish Paralympic Team at the Conrad Hotel. Youri and Paul and I are going into quarantine in England on the 18th of August and Youri and Paul fly out on the 26 of August. Niall and I fly out on the 28th. My first day of competition is the 7th of September and we will be on between 7 and 11am on the 1st two days and between 7 and 11pm on the last day.

Youri is going well. I am still off the smokes surprise surprise!