USPEA: Trunnell and McIntosh Represent the USA in Deep Grade 1A Division

Source: News Release/Eleanor R. Brimmer

Trunnell and McIntosh Represent the USA in Deep Grade 1A Division

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - The largest class of 26 athletes from 19 nations in the 2016 Paralympic Equestrian Games contested the 1A division on September 12, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Margaret "Gigi" McIntosh from Reading, PA, made her Paralympic Team and major championship debut at Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center with her aptly named mare Rio Rio. The pair acquitted themselves well, finishing on a 68.087% for 19th place.

Roxanne Trunnell of Rowlett, Texas, also made her Paralympic debut representing the United States as an Individual with Rachel Zent and Julia Handt's Royal Dancer. The 2014 World Equestrian Games team member scored a 69.348% for 14th place. Roxanne commented, "Royal felt amazing during the test. I couldn't help but smile during it; He was so forward and marching in his walk and I was thrilled with his freewalk. I've been working on letting the reins go more which is a weird feeling for me since with my previous mount Touché you always had to keep hold of her, but I'm getting better about it. Overall it was a fantastic first Paralympic showing. I couldn't bring cookies with me but I snagged him some apples and I was sure to give him one after that lovely test."

Winning the Grade 1A Individual Test was Great Britain's Sophie Christiansen riding Athene Lindebjerg to a 77.522%, her teammate Anne Dunham followed her into second place with Ljt Lucas Normark with a score of 73.975%.

Also competing this morning, September 12, was the Grade IV division, which did not have any representation from the United States. Belgium's Michele George won the class with her 2012 Paralympic Gold Medal partner Fbw Rainman on a score of 75.286%. Second place finisher for Grade IV was Great Britain team member Sophie Wells riding Valerius to a 74.405%.

Tuesday, September 13, we will see Rebecca Hart and Margaret Duprey and Cherry Knoll Farm's Schroeter's Romani compete in the Grade II Team Test at 11:20 AM local time. Entering the Equestrian Center for her second day is Annie Peavy aboard Becky Reno and Heather Blitz's Lancelot Warrior to contest the Grade III Individual Test for a possible medal at 4:06 PM local time.

The 2016 Paralympic Equestrian Games run from September 11-16, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center.

Full results and live scoring can be found here: http://rio2016.live.fei.org/

Margaret McIntosh and Rio Rio photo by Lindsay Y. McCall

Roxanne Trunnell and Royal Dancer Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall

Timeline of Events at the Paralympic Games:

September 13
10:00 AM      Grade II Team - Rebecca Hart (11:20 AM)
2:00 PM       Grade III Individual - Annie Peavy (4:06 PM)
5:05 PM       Grade III - Victory Ceremony

September 14
10:00 AM   Grade IV Ind.
12:20 PM   Grade IV Ind. - Victory Ceremony
2:00 PM       Grade Ib Ind. - Sydney Collier
5:05 PM       Grade Ib Ind. - Victory Ceremony

September 15
10:00 AM   Grade II Ind. - Rebecca Hart
1:00 PM       Grade II Ind. - Victory Ceremony
2:00 PM       Grade Ia Ind. - Margaret McIntosh, Roxanne Trunnell
4:55 PM       Grade Ia Ind. - Victory Ceremony

September 16
9:00 AM   Grade III FS - Annie Peavy
10:10 AM   Grade IV FS
11:16 AM   Grade III FS - Victory Ceremony
11:31 AM   Grade IV FS - Victory Ceremony
1:00 PM       Grade Ib FS - Sydney Collier
2:10 PM       Grade Ia FS - Margaret McIntosh, Roxanne Trunnell
3:10 PM       Grade II FS - Rebecca Hart
4:16 PM       Grade Ia FS - Victory Ceremony
4:31 PM       Grade II FS - Victory Ceremony
4:46 PM       Grade Ib FS - Victory Ceremony
5:01 PM       Team - Victory Ceremony

For more information about the U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team please visit United States Equestrian Federation at www.USEF.org, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation at www.USET.org, or Team USA at http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Sports/Equestrian.

For more information about the 2016 Paralympic Equestrian competition please visit https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/equestrian