Riders Reap Rewards From Preparation

 

by Rebecca Roberts 10.08.09

Para-equestrian dressage riders Emma Sheardown and Sophie Wells have their sights set firmly on success in the run up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games, after a successful start to their seasons saw them selected to represent GB at the European Championships later this month in Kristiansand, Norway.

Both athletes have been putting in the hours not only in their riding, but also in the gym and physiotherapy treatment rooms at English Institute of Sport (EIS) Loughborough, in a bid to maintain their strength and agility over a tough line-up of competitions. eis2win.co.uk talks to the EIS support staff and athletes themselves about the programme.

In April the duo had impressive performances at the Moorsele CPEDI in Belgium.  Sheardown and her ride Purdy’s Dream proving unbeatable winning the Grade 1a team, individual and freestyle tests, all with scores of more than 70%, and Wells, who competed two horses, scored two wins in the grade IV individual and freestyles tests with Pinocchio and a third in the team test with Valerius. 

Wells also dominated the grade IV section of the para-equestrian dressage International competition at Hartpury last month. She rode Pinocchio to victory in the individual, team and freestyle tests posting an impressive score of 77.26% in the freestyle.

Based in the East Midlands, Wells and Sheardown have had the full support of the strength and conditioning coaching and physiotherapy services provided by the EIS at its Loughborough University base for the past two years.

“With Sophie, the aim has been to keep her injury free so that combined with her physiotherapy work, she would be training and competing more regularly to a higher level,” says EIS Strength & Conditioning Coach Mat Bramhall. “She has been working really hard on getting stronger and keeping injury free in the build up to the Euros and it’s great she’s had such success already this year.”

“With Emma, she overcame some issues she was suffering in her leg by working closely with Emma Deakin (EIS physiotherapist),” continues Mat. “Emma and I came up with an effective strength & conditioning and physiotherapy programme to help target specific areas that Emma needed to work on - which has removed the problem and hopefully marks the start of further success.”

Committed to her tough training programme Sophie Wells is hoping for ongoing improvements with the support team in place behind her. 

“It's been a great help to have the strength and conditioning and physio support from the EIS at Loughborough,” says Wells. “It's the little extra strength and fitness that can make a big difference in my riding. With the problems I have with my legs, it’s taken a lot of work from Mat Bramhall, Matt Ashman and the doctors, all liaising in conjunction with our World Class support staff, to figure out how to get the best out of them.  It's not been straightforward but it's great to know we have a great support team behind us. There’s still a long way to go, and I'm taking training day by day, but I'm totally committed to it” she adds.

With the European Championships ahead for both riders, Emma Sheardown rates the access to support on top of their riding.
 
“As a World Class Development rider, to have access to these facilities is a real bonus,” says Emma.  “Working with the EIS and Emma Deakin in particular is already beginning to reap rewards, especially in light of my team selection for the European Championships.”

Sophie and Emma are on the British Equestrian Federation’s UK Sport funded Equestrian World Class Programme, which supports a pathway to success for eventing, show jumping, dressage and para-equestrian dressage athletes. Both riders are on the para-dressage squads, with Emma on the Development programme, while Sophie has recently been promoted to the top level of Performance. As part of their programme, they access EIS support services out of EIS Loughborough, based at Loughborough University.

The European Championships are being held in Kristiansand, Norway between 20th-24th August.

To visit the British Equestrian Federation website click here

Photograph courtesy of the British Equestrian Federation