Paramatters

from British Dressage - Issue 1 2021

Profi le Breeder and

PARA MATTERS

LETTER FROM PARA DIRECTOR JULIE FRIZZELL

WELCOME TO 2021!

fter the di culties of last year we greet the ew ear with a sense of optimism but a degree of caution. I know so many of you were impacted by I - on many fronts family home work and competing and I hope that we can get back to some sense of normality in the spring. e still achieved great things in and we must not forget that. superb uissage ulse inter hampionships were hosted by elly hompson and the team at Myerscough and we were able to salvage an autumn ara Festival at olihull which gave a renewed focus and a chance to meet up safely after months of isolation and no competition. hank you to all of you who made these competitions possible and to help our sport shine brightly in dark times.

I’m humbled by the progress we’ve made on so many fronts but particularly participation numbers. hree years ago I rallied the troops and asked to double the number of active para dressage athletes. he numbers stood at to day I can say we have a record number of riders. ust e cellent news and there are more waiting in the wings to make the transition to B competition. ome date for your diary as you en oy the festive break and plan your year with a tub of elebrations • Equissage Pulse Para Winter

Championships, - March

Myerscough ollege ancashire • Para Home International, pril May eysoe Bedfordshire • Festival of Para Dressage, - une ellington iding Hampshire ates and venue of the uissage ulse ara Bron e and ilver hampionships are ust being fi nalised and the uissage ulse old hampionships will take place at omerford ark in heshire as part of the eMieu ational hampionships in eptember e act date to be announced soon.

I’m sad to say that my time as ara irector fi nishes at the end of the year. I’ve spent seven ama ing and inspiring years on the Board and served years on regional committees but the time has come to make way for new ideas and leadership. he sport is in a position of strength and now is the time to springboard to the ne t level. strong national network supports a vibrant para community our championships break records year after year we now have dedicated training for para o cials and the pathway from grassroots to aralympics is clear so we can help every partnership realise their potential. ur links with the and B F have never been stronger and we can ensure a holistic approach to all things para. o we’ll be searching for candidates to come forward for election to take these achievements to a whole new level and build on the foundations which have been laid. lease get your thinking caps on for someone you know who has the credentials passion and drive or it could even be you e’ll be formally advertising for nominations in the spring ahead of an election at the M so keep an eye on future maga ine issues and the website. fi nal note of congratulations to our own atasha Baker who was recently elected on to the aralympics B thletes’ ommission. I’m sure she’ll do our sport proud as well as represent the interests of athletes from all sports. ood luck with our plans remember to be fl e ible adaptable and ready for every eventually certainly taught us that