Gold Circle Racing in Durban has taken the South African ladies’ para-dressage squad under its wing as it bids to qualify for the Paralympic Games in Rio later this year.

Under the sponsorship of Gold Circle, the team is competing in three international events in Europe and has already shown a high standard of competency in the first qualifying event in Deauville, France.

Tamsin Mbatsha-Bouwer

Unfortunately, one of the leading riders in the team, Wendy Moller, was unable to make the trip to Europe through illness but Shani de Beer and Tamsin Mbatsha-Bouwer who made the trip and Philippa Johnson who is based in Belgium, gave good accounts of themselves in France and will be looking to the next competition in Waregem in Belgium at the end of next week.

According to Ingeborg Sanne who runs the international portfolio for Dressage SA, Philippa Johnson did extremely well – at medal level – scoring 75.6% for freestyle and 71.27% in the individual and 71.29% in the team categories. Shani de Beer scored 66.25% in freestyle, 64.94% in individual and 63.97% in team while Tamsin Mbatsha-Bouwer got 64.82% for individual and 55.52% for team in which she was competing for the first time. She did not

Shani De Beer

qualify for the freestyle category.

The sponsorship of the para-dressage team, while not within the parameters of horseracing and thoroughbreds, is in keeping with the Gold Circle’s policy of support for worthy causes and involvement with projects aligned with the equine industry.

In addition to operating racecourses in Durban and Pietermaritzburg it also runs the world-famous Summerveld training establishment at Shongweni and a similar centre at Ashburton. It supports the Coastal Horse Care Unit in KwaZulu-Natal that cares for horses of all types that have been neglected.

The unit travels to rural areas assisting horse owners with medication and equipment and teaches them on the special care their animals require.

Pictures courtesy of www.e-questrianfocus.com and www.philippajohnson.com