Talk:Grace Bowman withdraws from 2012 Paralympic Dressage Individual Championship Test - Grade II event

Journalist notes
Grace Bowman's horse was being difficult before she got in the ring. It looked like it might amost through her and he continually moved his head around though he did not rear up. She was the first of Australia's riders to ride. She had 57% on the first day according to duth journ. Started off with 48.0% on the halt salute. Half circle was 44%. The medium trot 48.7%. The horse was not agreeing with her according to the dutch journalist. Grace had to pull on the reins of a lot and the horse head moved a lot. 42.8% for turn on haunches. 70% is the really good score. Rein back 45.8%. 39.8% for the circle R 8m. The dutch journalist explaining it to use said what a pity. 37.3% for the circle L 8m. She decided to stop by lifting her hands. According to dutch journ, this was a signal she wanted to end the ride. She did not fiinish. She looked like she would cry after and they showed her crying on the big screen. She withdrew from the thing. Given how bad her horse was doing, it was very well. --LauraHale (talk) 08:24, 1 September 2012 (UTC)



Biography from plus+
BOWMAN Grace Related Participant News Profile Date of Birth: 16 JUL 1990 Gender: Female Place of Birth: KADINA, Australia Residence: - Sport: Equestrian Event(s): Individual Championship Test - Grade II Class: GII Individual Freestyle Test - Grade II Class: GII Team Test - Grade II Class: GII Team Championship Class: GII Participant's Portrait HISTORICAL RESULTS Competition Highlights [Explanation of Competition Highlights (click to open/close)] GENERAL INTEREST Occupation: Motivational Speaker, Student Education: Psychology - University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AUS Coach: Megan Jones (abc.net.au, 01 Feb 2012) Additional Information: Disability nature Spinal Cord Injuries

Disability origin Accident

DisabilityClass GRADE II

Start of sporting career She started competing in 1999 until her accident in 2002. She returned as a para-dressage rider in 2003. (paralympic.org.au, 10 Aug 2010)

Reason for taking up this sport She has always found comfort, strength and inspiration in her relationship with horses. (paralympic.org.au, 10 Aug 2010)

Ambitions To compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. (paralympic.org.au, 11 Aug 2010)

She would one day like to work as a sport psychologist. (gracebowman.au.com, 13 Apr 2012)

Most memorable sporting achievement Competing at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. (paralympic.org.au, 11 Aug 2010)

Superstitions / Rituals She always has a four leaf clover and a horseshoe in her pocket, two guardian angel pins over her heart, and she always wears her late father's watch. (paralympic.org.au, 26 Dec 2011)

Sporting philosophy / motto "Follow your dreams and never give up." (equestrian.org.au, 10 Aug 2010)

General DISABILITY She was riding her horse on 13 September 2002 when it shied at something and took her under a tree. She collided with a branch, which dislocated her spine and severed her spinal cord. (gracebowman.au.com, 13 Apr 2012)

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS AT LONDON 2012 Date Time Sport Event Location Result Start List Results Reports THU 30 09:00 EQ Team Test - Grade II Greenwich Park 21 Start List Results Reports SAT 01 09:00 EQ Ind. Championship Test - Grade II Greenwich Park Start List Reports

APC press release from yesterday
APC MEDIA RELEASE

Friday 31 August 2012

Bowman out to prove herself at Greenwich

At the World Equestrian Games in 2010, Grace Bowman was given all the motivation she needed heading into the London 2012 Paralympic Games. She finished fourth.

Since then, she has thrown herself into fulltime training – putting university and work on hold and temporarily relocating her training to Melbourne, all to give herself the best chance at winning a medal at the Paralympic Games.

Tomorrow the 21-year-old will have her best chance in her favourite event, the Grade II individual championship and is eager to show the crowds at Greenwich Park what she is capable of, after posting a disappointing score of 57.048% in her team test on Thursday.

“Grace’s horse has had some issues with the sight screen in the arena,” said equestrian team manager Sally Francis.

“Grace did well to control her during the team test and finish yesterday. We’ve been working very closely with her horse since to try to alleviate any stress it might be under.”

Memories from four years ago, when her old horse spooked under the electric atmosphere of a Games, are not far away in the South Australian’s mind.

“It sneaks in every now and then but I’m a lot stronger and a lot fitter than I was four years ago,” said Bowman.

“I’m a much better rider than I was four years ago so I’d like to think that should something like that happen, that I can ride through it and just put that behind me. I mean sure, it sneaks into your mind but at the end of the day, I just want to be able to say I did everything that I could and whatever happens, happens.”

Looking for nothing less than a top five finish, the Games are particularly important to Bowman, having been a dream with her father, who passed away last year.

“It’s something that we really wanted to achieve together and I guess I’ve got to finish that,” she said.

Victorian Joann Formosa will also compete in the individual championship tomorrow, having issued a challenge to British rider and nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson that his unblemished gold medal haul since Sydney 2000 will soon come to an end.

“I’m out to beat him. Bring on the rest of the comp!” she said.

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