Irish para dressage team face funding shortfall ahead of European championships

Para rider Angela Lyons on Woodcroft Santa Cruz. Members of the Irish para dressage team have had to launch a fundraising drive to ensure they can compete in the European Championships in The Netherlands in September. Pictures: Lukasz Kowalski

Ireland's top para riders, who face challenges most elite athletes don’t, must now clear an unexpected financial hurdle that threatens their participation in the European championships next month.

Despite having achieved the international qualification standards required to represent their country, the Irish para dressage team said “unforeseen circumstances” have left a funding gap, which puts at risk their dream of competing at the European Para Dressage Championships.