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Whitaker recovers to lend hand to charity
Olympic rider John Whitaker had no idea nine years ago that he was walking around with a life- threatening brain condition.
After collapsing while on holiday in Sweden, he went to his local hospital for a check on returning home. They referred him to the Royal Hallamshire hospital, in Sheffield, where a CT scan showed he had a brain aneurysm, which is an abnormal bulging of one of the arteries in the brain.
An operation to treat the aneurysm was successful but it was a worrying time for him and the whole family.
"As I'm used to being very active and with my passion for riding, I was particularly worried, as I didn't know whether the operation would effect my movement," he said. "But I was one of the lucky ones, I came out good."
Aneurysms cause bleeding to the brain or the space closely surrounding the brain, which can cause a haemorrhage. During the operation, a titanium wire was put around his brain to seal it.
Life went back to normal and he has continued to compete at the top level, including being a member of last year's Olympic team.
Ever since his operation, Whitaker has given his backing to the charity Neurocare, a Sheffield charity which supports the Neurosciences Department at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. He recently hosted an equestrian-themed ball which raised 5,000 for the charity.
It is a cause that is close to his heart and, he added: "I feel 100 per cent better now and even though I still have an aneurysm, it's not in a dangerous place so I can live my life without worrying."
For more information about the charity Neurocare go to www.neurocare.org.uk.
A record number of 73 drivers took part in the North-Eastern Driving Trials Group event at Allerton Park near Knaresborough.
Organiser Ken Walmsley said: "In the current economic climate, that's as many if not more than many national events are attracting at the moment."
The Novice pony class was won by Birgitta Kronqvist, from Terrington, near York, who put up an unbeatable performance in the dressage with her new pony, Larry, to give her victory over Kelly Wilson, despite Kelly having a faster marathon.
Steve Nichols, from Thirsk, led throughout all three sections with his trotter cross, Bob, to win the Novice Horse class. He finished the event some 23 penalties ahead of his nearest rival, Carolyn Cunningham, from Northumberland.
The open classes saw Gary Brown taking the Open Pony class and Susan Henry winning in the Open Horse section.
She had the best dressage score of the competition with 33 penalties and was also awarded the prize for the lowest overall score of the competition, the only person to finish under the 100 penalty mark, on 91.30.
Anxious wait for Yorkshire-based Para duo after Hickstead 'trial'
IRISH Para riders Kathryn Wheelock and Gerry Savage have been riding at Hickstead this week with the top British Para dressage riders.
The British team were using Hickstead as their final selection trial for the European Para Dressage Championships in Norway at the end of August.
Both Kathryn and Gerry live in Yorkshire but ride for Ireland and were not eligible for selection at this competition but hoped to put on a good showing against Team GB. They will hear in the next few days if they have been selected to be part of this Irish team riding in Norway at the European Championships.
The duo have have won at least half-a-dozen para qualifiers between them. Kathryn is Grade III Para Winter Champion and kur champion and Gerry took the Grade Ia Para Spring Championship.
TEAMS from the UK, Germany, Holland and Norway will be competing in the fourth Polocrosse European Challenge at the Northern Racing College, Doncaster next weekend.
A national tournament will run alongside the Challenge with teams from all over the country taking part.
The UK's top players will compete for places in the teams that will take on South Africa in test matches to be played later in July.
Spectators are welcome to pop along – play begins at 9am on July 4 and 5.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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