Kathryn earns another tilt at national success

This is quite a record for Kathryn, who has had to work even harder this year as the new FEI Para tests, particularly at the Grade III level, have increased in difficulty. The riders now have to achieve able-bodied Medium test level.

Kathryn suffers from cerebral palsy and learning difficulty. She finds it hard to coordinate her limbs but says: "Riding has definitely made me stronger and more balanced."

She also has a poor short-term memory but finds dressage good as she can have her tests called. She has problems, too, with spatial awareness.

A member of Otley and District Riding for the Disabled group, Kathryn lives at Glusburn near Keighley. She has been competing successfully for a number of years and says it is her ambition to ride in the 2012 Paralympics.

She is a member of the Irish Para Equestrian High Performance squad and is also a Paralympic Council of Ireland panel member working towards the London Olympics.

Kathryn has recently started competing with a new horse, Westpoint First of Many (Mr Fly), who she has on lease from the Palmer family from near Nottingham. "He has helped me so much," said Kathryn. "He's such a lovely character and always tries so hard for me. I achieved fourth place in the championship test and two fifth places at the Para International at Hartpury just six weeks after my first ride on him."

As well as competing in the National Dressage Finals, which take place from September 9 to 12, Kathryn's immediate plans to compete in further Northern Para classes with this horse as well as working with her younger horse, Taurus III.

TWO Hurworth Pony Club members were among those to do well at the UK National Tetrathlon Championships, at Hartpury College.

In the open section, 19-year-old Sarah Moseley came fourth and also gained a gold medal for achieving over 4,250 points. She has recently returned from competing in the International competition in America where she finished fifth individually as part of the winning team.

Matt Backhouse, 18, was also competing in the open section and though unplaced, he put up a good performance in his swim and shoot section and went clear in the cross-country.

In the intermediate section, 16-year-old Jack Bagley came second with 4,330 points. This included joint top score in the shoot with 940 points, a personal best swim and run and a clear cross-country round.

This was very encouraging for Jack as he has only been able to start fitness training over the past few weeks after recovering from a middle ear infection, which put him out of action in the Spring. He hopes to return to next year at open level.

THE 10 British show-jumpers who have automatically qualified to compete in the international classes at the Horse of the Year Show have been announced as: Ben Maher, Nick Skelton, Guy Williams, Ellen Whitaker, Peter Charles, John Whitaker, Laura Renwick, Robert Whitaker, Mark Armstrong and Daniel Neilson.

Due to the World Equestrian Games coinciding with HOYS, Michael Whitaker, Scott Brash and Tina Fletcher do not appear in the list as they will be going to Kentucky to represent Great Britain in the games.