Updated at 20.33
IRELAND’S HELEN KEARNEY has won a bronze medal in the Individual Freestyle Test – Grade Ia at the Paralympics in London today.
Along with her horse Mister Cool, she earned a PB of 78.4%, finishing behind Sophie Christiansen of Team GB and Singapore’s Laurentia Tan, who took gold and silver respectively.
It is the second individual medal Kearney has won at these Paralympics, in addition to helping Ireland win a team medal, and is the country’s ninth medal in total.
Meanwhile, her international compatriot, Geraldine Savage, finished fifth in the same event, with a score of 72.300.
And Kearney expressed her joy at the achievement, saying:
“My first games and three medals, I cannot even put into words how it feels.“The team bronze is fantastic. The team worked so hard that it was a great achievement for us all and is testament to all our hard work that we secured the bronze.”
She added: “Mister Cool was much more relaxed today. The crowd was louder today and I was conscious of this but it worked out well. We both were relaxed and it showed in the result.”
Speaking following Team Ireland’s success, Chairman of Horse Sport Ireland Joe Walsh said:
“To win a team bronze and two individual medals is simply outstanding. I want to send the congratulations and gratitude of the entire Irish equestrian community to Helen and her team mates Eilish, James and Geraldine. Their performances have capped what has been a phenomenal six weeks for Irish equestrian sport. “
In addition, Darragh McDonald, who has already won gold in the 400m Freestyle, finished eighth in the 50m freestyle S6 Paralympic final this evening, with time of 33.26.
The final was won by China’s Xu Qing, who set a new world record with a time of 28.57.
And in sailing, Team Ireland are now ninth overall in the Sonar class, with the trio of John Twomey, Anthony Hegarty and Ian Costelloe delivering their best performance so far to finish second in today’s race.
