Dalmally Bear off to Tokyo on Paralympic mission
A special Dalmally teddy bear has travelled to Tokyo on an important mission.
Tokyo Bear, who was hand-crafted by Argyll artists Liz Gaffney-Whaite and Andrea Scott, is the mascot of the Irish Equestrian Team at the Paralmypics, which begin in Japan this week.
The bear was commissioned for the team by Liz’s sister Rosemary Gaffney, a dressage rider who will make her Paralympic debut later this week. He is one of the family of Book Cover Bears, oatmeal and green colour collector’s items made using traditional skills.
‘Tokyo Bear takes his responsibility as team mascot very seriously,’ said Liz, ‘and he has been doing his best to support and encourage the horses, riders and the rest of the team through the nerve-wracking last few days before their events. We will be cheering Rosemary, Mona and our Tokyo Bear on every step of the way. It’s been a long journey for all of them and we’re so excited to see what happens next.’
Tokyo Bear wears a smart horse-riding jacket, decorated with the green, white and orange Irish flag, and wears a tiny hat, with flowers in Irish colours, and a matching tie pin. He even has his own felted horse, named Hope.
He travelled from Argyll to Ireland and with Rosemary and her horses has been in many countries. Tokyo Bear reports on their adventures via The Book Cover Bears social media pages.
Rosemary is a professional horse-woman and trainer who has ridden since childhood, and has fought back from two separate serious falls which damaged her legs and threatened her career. Having been a reserve for the Paralympics in 2012 and 2016, she won selection this year and will compete in the IV para-dressage grade.
Back in Argyll, Tokyo Bear's friends in the Bear Room at Heartfelt Studio in Dalmally Station are hard at work preparing flags, bunting and cake to mark the occasion.