Kentish Express Ashford & District
Katie has Rio in her sights
RIDER Katie Radzik is setting her sights on winning a place in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.
The 24- year- old from Westwell in Ashford is coached by Clive Milkins, the man who guided Sophie Christiansen to doublegold in London last year and hopes to follow in her footsteps.
Katie suf fers from cerebral palsy ataxia affecting her left side and short-term memory loss and has had to battle back from breaking her leg in two places in a fall which caused her to miss the regional para- dressage qualifers.
She said: “My ultimate ambition is to compete internationally and follow in Sophie’s footsteps.
“It just means I will have to train hard in the next year.”
Kat ie t rains wi t h Milkins, chief instructor at South Bucks Riding for the Disabled Association Centre and also attends Cobbs Meadow RDA Centre in Canterbury. She has great hopes for her new partnership with Whisper III, a 16.2hh Medium Advanced Dutch warm blood.
She started riding at the age of three when her paediatrician advised it
‘My ultimate ambition is to compete internationally’
might help with balance.
Her aunt Jane Stovold bought her a pony for her and able-bodied twin sister Chloe, both competing together at shows.
Katie started dressage at the age of 16 with her Arab, Sunny, progressing to ride 16.1 hh thoroughbred Rossi, the pair competing successfully in cross country. She attended Hadlow Agricultural College for two years, studying Land based Studies and Horse Care, gaining BHS Stage 1 and NVQ Level 2. Kat ie spent three years working at Quex Park at Birchington and Badlesmere based Saddledane Equestrian Centre, before setting up her own yard at home, concentrating on developing her own dressage career.
She avoids show jumping events due to her memory loss, which makes it extremely difficult to remember a course.
Dressage allows her to have a caller who talks her through competitions.
However, Katie has been classed as Grade Four Paralympics, a category which doesn’t allow her to have a caller but she hopes future assessments take into account her memory difficulties.