​Two Irish, a Cockney and a Dutchman walk into a bar… but this is no joke, this is the Irish Team, who are competing at the World Para Driving Championships in Kronenberg (NL) this weekend.

Dublin-based driver Emma Golding (36), along with her Irish Sports Pony Barnlough Lilly (18), and groom Jasmine Doyle (20) are flying the tricolour for Ireland as the smallest (but arguably most determined) team here at Kronenberg 2018. They are accompanied by an adopted-international support-crew of:

Ground groom: Gerard de Lange (NL)
Logistics manager: Alfie Budd (GBR)

Alongside team management:

Chef d’equipe: Sara Mullins (IRE)
Team trainer: Wilf Bowman-Ripley (GBR)

Emma would like to thank all of her sponsors and supporters, without whom she would not be able to represent her country - in particular:

Irish Ferries – Logistics support
Horse Sport Ireland – Entries and subsidised training
Horseware Ireland – Rugs and tack for Lilly.
Equiline - Team clothing
University College Dublin – Support with time for time for training and competition away from Emma’s day job as Section Administrator for Equine Clinical Studies, Diagnostic Imaging and Anaesthesia at the UCD Vet School.

Already the World Championships has proved to be a extraordinary event, with the opening ceremony being held at Toverland, a local theme-park where each of the teams were paraded past the crowds of supporters on an accessible logflume-style water-ride.

Following the trot-up, Emma's pony Lilly has been passed as “fit to compete”
We wish Emma, Lilly and Jasmine and all those taking part the best of luck for the upcoming days of competition.A full report will feature in the October issue of Carriage Driving Magazine

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