Injury blows hamper United for opener

MANDY Parsons’ international search to help her chase a Paralympic dream ended up where it started, at her home in Tasmania.

Parsons was on track to compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games for dressage, but her road to Tokyo has had to start again.

In April last year Parsons lost her horse to colic, causing her to search for a new companion to qualify for the Paralympics.

The search included going to Germany but Parsons had no luck until Kim MELBOURNE United will be without Boomers veteran David Barlow and possibly star import Casey Prather for their NBL season opener against newcomers South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The cross-city derby will open the season at Melbourne Arena tonight at 7.30pm.

United coach Dean Vickerman confirmed big man Barlow was out with a fractured thumb while Prather failed to practise because of knee soreness, though the twotime championship-winning mentor was hopeful the American would play.

Prather, who helped United win their 2017-2018 title, before spending last season in Symmons took her horse Wizard to Lydia Jackson at Cheval Equitation in Kingston.

“I had him up home for a while and I wanted him somewhere that had a good group environment to help me with him,” Symmons said.

Jackson, who is Parsons’ trainer, knew she had found the right horse and in only a space of a couple of weeks is confident in Wizard’s ability.

“I can see through the not-so-good bits to see the potential at the end,” Jackson said.

“The more I started working with this Europe, has a history of knee trouble.

“Casey is a little bit of a concern as we felt we have managed him pretty well,” Vickerman said. “He has very rarely done two days in a row and yesterday was a heavy session, so he was rested today and my expectation is that he will play.”

Vickerman said 35-year-old Barlow also won’t travel to Perth for Saturday night’s game against the Wildcats or to the US for their NBLxNBA games against Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings. Kiwi Tohi SmithMilner and NBL debutant Jo Lual Acuil are set for more game time before Barlow returns in Round 3.

“Everyone has played in our league except Jo and every time he has had a chance to play 20 minutes or more in pre-season he has averaged about 18 [points] and eight [rebounds],” Vickerman said.

“He’s going to play good minutes tomorrow and Tohi is playing the best basketball we’ve ever seen from him.”