MARI DURWARD-AKHURST

Para Dressage Rider who is hoping to compete in the Tokyo Olympics MARI WRITES: Hartpury Festival of Dressage - CPEDI3* Team Test-Day 1 The boys did good today!! Massive thanks to my super support team and super trainer Rob!! 2nd place and 70% with Mr Sky! And 6th place and just under 70% with Bear at his first ever international. And only 3rd time riding team test!! Couldn't be a prouder mum; over the moon!! Individual Test- Day 2 Sky came 2nd today and 2nd overall!! Behind a triple Paralympic gold medallist!! And my baby at his first ever international came 6th again and was in the top 6 overall!! Could not be prouder! Literally had nothing left to give today but both boys looked after me, not our best tests today. Hope Sky has his dancing shoes on tomorrow :D Freestyle Test- Day 3 Finished off the competition with another 2nd place; behind a triple Paralympic gold medallist!! So close to 1st only 3.5% away; got 71.82% not bad considering it was Bears music and not ridden it many times before!! Kicking myself as was absolutely spot on and would have finished bang on until I added an extra 8m circle!! Lesson learnt!! Silly girl!! So proud of Sky, he loves dancing to his music. Had an absolutely amazing time at Hartpury Festival of Dressage representing GB with both boys a true honour! Both boys were amazing and I could not be prouder of them. Bear took everything in his stride and acted like he had done it all before! Sky was a true pro and rose to the occasion! To finish with three second places with scores over 69% was amazing especially as it was 2nd to a triple Paralympic gold medallist. For me it was also fantastic to have Bear who is all knew to it finish with two 6th places and to be in the top 6 overall!! Over the moon and on cloud 9! I literally cannot thank everyone enough who supports me. I could not of achieved what I have done over the last week if it wasn't for you all. Many Thanks! Mari’s next event is a winter qualifier on the 29th August at Widmer EC in Bucks.