Articles: Horse News
U.S. Finishes Seventh at 2012 Paralympic Games
Donna Ponessa and Western Rose
(Lindsay McCall)
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2012
By Helen Murray
Greenwich, UK - Sunday saw the conclusion of the Team Championship as well
medals awarded for individual performances in Grade IV, III and 1a
competition at the 2012 Paralympic Games. The host nation took medals by the
handful claiming two Individual Silvers, an Individual Gold and Team
Gold. This is the fifth time Great Britain has earned the top spot on the
team podium since 1996 when Para-Equestrian Dressage was first included in
the Paralympic Games. Claiming Silver behind Great Britain was the team from
Germany with Ireland earning Bronze.
The U.S. team put in determined efforts in both the Team and Individual
Tests and finished in seventh place.
Donna Ponnessa (New Windsor, NY) was the only American to ride on Sunday and
Donna
gained valuable experience in Greenwich's impressive Stadium. Ponessa
finished in sixth place in the Grade 1a Team Test with Wesley Dunham's
Western Rose. The pair scored 69.2% in a test that was highlighted by a
beautiful free walk and where Ponessa earned high marks for her position.
Ponessa had been hoping for a better performance but nonetheless was pleased
with her own and the 9-year-old Oldenburg mare's effort.
"We gave it our all but it could have been a lot better. There was some
improvement [over the Team Test] and some things we didn't do as well," said
Ponessa. "It's a learning process."
The pair returns to the main arena on Tuesday to perform their Grade 1a
Freestyle Test, an opportunity Ponessa is excited for.
"There's still one more ride left. I'm disappointed in our ride today but
there's another day and hopefully I'll be that much more savvy."
In Grade IV competition Belgium's Michele George and Rainman won Gold with
Britain's Sophie Wells and Pinocchio earning Silver and The Netherlands'
Frank Hosmar riding Alphaville to the Bronze medal. Hannelore Brenner of
Germany earned the Gold medal in Grade III competition with Women Of The
World, Silver went to British rider Deborah Criddle and LJT Akilles and
Annika Dalskov with Aros A Fenris from Denmark earning Bronze. The Grade 1a
Gold medal went to Sophie Christiansen and Janiero 6 from Great Britain,
Helen Kearney and Mister Cool from Ireland won Silver and Singapore's
Laurentia Tan won the Bronze medal with Ruben James 2.
Dale Dedrick and Rebecca Hart of the U.S. will ride their Freestyle Tests
tomorrow morning in Grade II competition and Jonathan Wentz rides in Grade
1b afternoon competition.
ENDS
For Results and Orders of Go visit;
http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/equestrian/schedule-and-results/
Follow the 2012 U.S. Para-Equestrian Team here.
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation is to provide
leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the
pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes
|
