News Updates

Victory at Hicksead!!

World Class Para Dressage Rider, Emma Sheardown produced outstanding performances at the inaugural British Para National Championships held at Hickstead, Sussex 22 – 24 June 2010.

Part of the selection process for the World Equestrian Games, the championships attracted all the main contenders giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents on home turf.

Emma, riding Purdy’s Dream, fought the toughest battle of the championships in the grade 1a category where she beat the formidable forces of Paralympians Anne Dunham and Sophie Christiansen to lift the title.

The 25 year old from Grantham shot to victory in 2009 when she won both a gold and silver individual medal at the 2009 Para Equestrian Dressage European Championships. She is now vying for selection for the World Equestrian Games to take place in October in Kentucky.

Emma commented: “It’s been an amazing week – exceeding all my expectations; I’ve been trying to beat Anne [Dunham] and Sophie [Christiansen] ever since I started in para dressage so to finally achieve it is incredible. Our test times were quite late on the first day but I managed to stay relaxed and Eddie [Purdy’s Dream] went really well – he just keeps getting better and better.”

In an exciting new initiative, the five open championship winners; Emma Sheardown, Lee Pearson, Jo Pitt, Deb Criddle and Sophie Wells, went on to compete head-to-head in a freestyle to music finale. “I was absolutely delighted to get a score of 77.5% - which put me second in the class - only 1.25% behind Beijing triple gold medallist, Lee Pearson,” said Emma.

Emma is supported in 2010 by loyal sponsors CWG Equi-Club. CWG Ltd is the leading retailer of farm and country products throughout the Midlands and Eastern Counties supplying agricultural, equestrian, lifestyle and pet products. 

Acting Marketing and Communications Manager for CWG – Sue Yardley – commented: “We are thrilled with Emma’s success and trust that the selectors for the Para World Equestrian Games will be impressed with her achievements.”

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