Jumping for joy at Beijing mission

Jul 16 2008 by Peter Guy, Liverpool Daily Post

Jumping for joy at Beijing mission

ITS been quite some journey,” was Louise Lyons’ frank assessment of her rise from a schoolgirl taking pony classes to budding Olympic medallist.

But the 31-year-old is far from finished on her meteoric rise to the top, with a medal in Beijing top of her immediate targets, while also setting herself the long-term goal of representing her country once again in the 2012 London Games.

But it’s this summer’s hotly-anticipated appearance in China which is at the forefront of the Thornton Hough rider’s thoughts having been called up to the Ireland Equestrian squad. “I’m made up,” said Louise, who discovered she had been selected late last week.

“My horse, Watership Down, is quarantined in Aachen, Germany and we fly out in the next couple of days to Hong Kong and start competing on August 8. I’m really excited by the whole experience.”

So she should be. Having taken up riding aged four at her parents Robin and Anne’s Thornton Farm, on the Wirral, Louise took part in pony classes before taking up more serious competition while at Neston County High.

Having moved to Hartpury College in Gloucester, where she studied for her Equine Science degree, she was then selected for the England squad where she later took part at the British Show Pony Championships.

Louise adds: “During this time I training to become a qualified teacher. I’m now a registered BHS intermediate teacher with around 20 students from Wirral and Cheshire training at the yard every week.”

Louise’s training has resulted in a number of students gaining various national awards, but it is her own success which is extra special. Having competed for Ireland in the recent European Championships she finished inside the top 20 with the team finishing a respectable fifth.

“I’m especially pleased for the owners of my horse (Watership Down),” she said. “As it is the only horse the couple, Pip and Laurie March, bought, and they didn’t expect him to be competing, let alone going to an Olympic Games.

“I’m hoping local businesses can help with sponsorship as it would be great if they could come out to Beijing with me and watch us compete.”

Louise and Watership Down will be competing in all three disciplines – show jumping, cross country and dressage – each testing fitness, skill, obedience and control.

“I am hopeful of getting a medal, realistically a bronze,” said Louise. “I know going for gold or silver is probably a big ask, but I’d be thrilled to collect a bronze. And of course there’s every chance the Irish team could do well too.

“It is very exciting times – I can’t wait for it all to begin.”