Equestrian: S’pore riders top German event

SINGAPORE: Singaporean equestrians Laurentia Tan Yen—Yi and Maximillian Tan Chern —— who have both booked spots at the London 2012 Paralympic Games —— received a confidence boost at a recent international competition.

Laurentia and Maximillian were placed first and second in their Paralympic classifications of grades 1A and 1B respectively at the German Para—Equestrian Dressage Championships’ Freestyle to Music finals.

The three—day event —— held in berherrn, Germany —— ended last Sunday but the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) had to translate and verify the results before releasing them on Friday.

The two beat six other strong contenders from Germany, on the final day of the competition, in a performance which the SNPC said was encouraging.

Laurentia and Maximillian are part of an equestrian team that includes Gemma Rose Foo and will represent Singapore in the Mixed Team Test at the upcoming Paralympics.

All three riders have cerebral palsy, and Laurentia is also hearing—impaired.

The team are currently top in Asia and rank 11th in the world.

They will be the first Asian Para—Equestrian team to participate in the Paralympic Games.

The London Paralympics will take place from August 29 to September 9.

— CNA/wk