At 18 years of age, Grace became the first ever South Australian selected to represent Australia at a Paralympic Games, and was the youngest equestrian competitor at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. In 2010 Grace and her horse, Kirby Park Joy, were selected to compete at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, where they finished 4th as an individual combination, missing out on a bronze medal by 0.095%!!! Grace and Joy are now working towards gaining selection for the 2012 London Paralympic Games- follow their journey here!
Latest News:
Grace and Rolly win the fourth and final Australian selection event for London
The fourth and final paralympic nomination event took place at Sydney International Equestrian Centre from the 11th to the 13th of May. Grace and Rolly were in their best form of their 9 month paralympic campaign, winning the team, individual and freestyle tests with 68.71%, 70.14% and 73.16% respectively. Rolly was very relaxed and focussed enabling the combination to produce accurate and energetic tests. The Australian Para-Equestrian Team for the London Paralympic Games will be announced publically on the 19th of June.
Hat-trick for Grace and Rolly at 2012 National Championships!
At the recent Para-Equestrian National Championships and Third Paralympic Nomination event, held in conjunction with the 2012 Hamag Young Rider National Championships at Werribee Park from the 11th to 13th of April, Grace and Rolly took out the Grade 2 National Championship for the third year in a row. Grace and Rolly performed consistently throughout the event to win the Team Test with 66.11%, the Individual Championship with 65.87%, and the Freestyle with 70.4%. This leaves Grace and Rolly in a good position for selection leading into the fourth and final paralympic nomination event to be held in Sydney from the 11th to 13th of May.
Recent media featuring Grace and Rolly...
ABC radio- 1/2/12- http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/02/01/3420698.htm
SA weekend magazine- 4/2/12- http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/amazing-grace/story-fn3o6wog-1226260600082
Vinnie moves to Kirby Park!
I am very pleased to announce, that after four years of retirement, my precious little pony Vinnie (Sanlirra Reprint) has relocated to Kirby Park Stud where he will now fill his days as a riding school pony as part of the Megan Jones Equestrian Training Riding School. I hope that Vinnie is able to teach some new comers as much as he taught me!
More information about the Megan Jones Equestrian Training Riding School can be found through the following link: http://www.kirbypark.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=79&Itemid=115
Happy Riding!
Links to some recent media promoting Grace and Joy
The Horse Magazine: Grace Bowman- Equimec Rider of the Month, September 2011 http://au.merial.com/PDF/201109_rider_of_the_month.pdf
Stock Journal: Moonta rider trains for Paralympics 24/10/11 http://sj.farmonline.com.au/news/state/niche/general/moonta-rider-trains-for-paralympics/2329682.aspx?storypage=0
The Advertiser: The Brave and the Beautiful, 9/7/11 http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/the-brave-and-the-beautiful/story-e6frea6u-1226091499000
Grace and Joy blitz Paralympic Nomination event #1
The first of four Paralympic Nomination events was held in Tamworth at the Australian Equine and Livestoc Event Centre from the 8th to the 10th of September.
Grace and Rolly (KP Joy) won all 3 of their tests, 6% clear of the field with personal best scores in each test:
Team test: 1st 75%
Individual Championship: 1st 72%
Freestyle test: 1st 80%!!!
Grace and Joy are the 2011 National Champions
The 2011 Para-Equestrian National Championships were held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre from the 15th to the 17th of July. Grace and Rolly won all 3 of their Grade 2 tests, thus retaining their National title from 2010. With a personal best score in the Team Test, and a win on Grace's 21st birthday, it was a great comp! Their scores were:
Team test: 1st- 73%
Championship test: 1st- 68%
Freestyle: 1st- 69%
