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South Australian rider and Para Equestrian,
Andrew Driffield, from Birdwood in the
Adelaide Hills, has been selected to
represent Australia at the British Riding
for the Disabled Dressage Championships at
Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, on the
15th/16th July 2006.
In 1999 Andrew’s talent was recognised by
the selectors and National Coach resulting
in his selection on to the RDA National
Squad. For the past 7 years Andrew has
competed as a South Australian State Team
representative of Riding for the Disabled (RDA)
at the National Dressage Championships with
much success for South Australia.
In 2002, Andrew and his horse Belstone
Valentino, after having been narrowly beaten
for the Grade 3 National Championship, were
selected on to the Paralympic Training
Squad.
Shortly afterwards, in April 2003 Andrew was
due to compete at an International event in
Germany to qualify for the World
Championships, when the SARS virus struck.
The Australian Paralympic Committee made the
decision not to risk the health of the
riders and the trip was cancelled amid much
disappointment. But all was not lost, Andrew
still had the opportunity to be
 selected
for the World Championships as the APC had
decided to fly a German International
Coach/Selector, Stephan Kiesewetter, to
Australia to select the teams to represent
Australia.
However in June 2003 the International
Paralympic Committee (IPC) made the decision
to suspend all athletes with an Intellectual
Disability (ID) from International
competition. This was as a result of the
Spanish Basketball Team cheating at the
Sydney Paralympics in 2000.
Andrew was devastated. He had not cheated,
but he was being punished for another
countries, another sports wrong doing. As a
result he was unable to be selected.
Recently the IPC tabled some ID sports
events into the Beijing Paralympics, and
they will be holding a meeting in July 2006
to decide if the athletes themselves will
 be
able to attend. In order for Andrew to meet
the criteria to be selected for this
possible Paralympic Training Squad (PPP), he
must attend and ride in an International
competition.
In order for Andrew to be eligible for the
PPP he needs to accept the invitation to
compete in the RDA British National Dressage
Championships, at Hartpury College, near
Gloucester in the UK.
Andrew now needs your help to make his long
awaited, and worked for, dream come true.
Andrew only has two months to raise the
$10,000.00 required to make the trip to
England. Donations can be made through
Riding for the Disabled South Australia,
directly into a fund for Andrew. All
donations are tax deductible.
Ph. 08 8338 6100
RDASA ANDREW DRIFFIELD FUND,
1A GLADSTONE ST., FULLARTON. SA 5063 |
