Popular para-equestrian Jo Pitt dies at 34

Jo Pitt too Estralita.

British para-equestrian dressage passenger Joanne Pitt has died at the historic current of 34.

Pitt, who represented Great United Kingdom of Great Britain too Northern Ireland of Britain too Northern Republic of Ireland upwards to Paralympic level, was a regular Grade II national too international challenger amongst notable success.  With her long term partner Estralita, owned past times her parents Robert too Hazel Pitt, she claimed the Grade II entitle at British Dressage’s wintertime championships less than a calendar month ago.

Pitt was beingness treated for a really rare lung condition, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, too died peacefully on Th afternoon amongst her menage unit of measurement beside her.

“Jo was a stalwart of para-equestrian dressage too has fought hard over the final twelvemonth to found herself 1 time once again equally a existent medal contender for Great Britain,” said British Equestrian Federation Equestrian Performance Director Will Connell.

Joanne Pitt

“Jo made her Paralympic debut inwards Athens inwards 2004 too has remained utilisation of the Equestrian World Class Programme ever since. On behalf of the whole of the World Class Programme I would similar to extend our condolences too deepest sympathy to Jo’s family, fiancé too friends at this lamentable time. She volition live fondly remembered too missed past times the whole of the para-equestrian dressage too World Class Programme community.”

Pitt had right-sided hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which affected the feeling too mobility downwards her correct side but that never stood inwards her way. She was hooked on horses later on assist a 10-day summertime vacation army camp at Hayfield riding schoolhouse when she was six. By the fourth dimension she was eight, she had her ain pony too joined The Pony Club. She was taught equally an able-bodied rider, gained her Pony Club C summation seek out too went on to bring together a riding club.

In 1995, Pitt went to Oatridge Agricultural College inwards West Lothian, where she gained her NC too HNC inwards Equus caballus management. She passed her British Horse Society (BHS) phase 1 exam, but her disability stopped her from progressing further.

With Rockhill Kashmir she was selected for the 2004 Athens Paralympics equally an individual, finishing equal eighth.  In 2008, she found Estralita too they speedily developed a cracking partnership, beingness selected equally reserves for the Beijing Paralympics that year.  Her cause squad appearance was at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, taking bronze inwards the degree II freestyle seek out amongst 74.95% too they were utilisation of the gilt medal winning squad amongst a grade of 67.81%. The duet also placed 6th too 7th inwards the squad too private tests respectively.

She was disappointed non to live selected for the London Paralympics but equally was her way, she prepare almost discovering the previous cast which had earned her squad place. Pitt had moved from Aberdeen to Dereham inwards Norfolk to live amongst her fiancé Rory too his menage unit of measurement too nether the guidance of long-time trainer Michel Assouline too novel motorcoach Liza McQuistion, she worked tirelessly to improve.

So far inwards 2013, the combination won all but 2 classes from 12 starts including international victories inwards the squad too private classes at Deauville CPEDI3* inwards March too the Grade II entitle at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships.

David Hunter, Para-Equestrian Dressage Performance Manager added: “First too initiative of all the thoughts of everyone inwards the GB Para Dressage Performance Squad are amongst Jo’s parents, her 2 sisters too her fiancé Rory. It is hard to embrace that 10 days agone Jo was her correspond too salubrious self, preparation her horses each twenty-four hr current too determined to brand alternative for the European Championships inwards August. She had started the contest flavor amongst renewed vigour too alone 5 weeks agone was competing at a major international contest inwards Deauville, France. She had lately moved to Norfolk too had merely moved into a novel menage unit of measurement home. She had everything going for her.  She volition live greatly missed too never forgotten.”

Amanda Bond, Chief Executive of British Dressage also paid tribute; “Everyone inwards the dressage community volition live shocked too saddened past times losing Jo hence suddenly.  She was an integral utilisation of para dressage for hence many years.  Our hearts too prayers teach to her menage unit of measurement too friends, specially her parents Bob too Hazel who dedicated hence much to their love daughter; no 1 was to a greater extent than proud each fourth dimension she rode.  Jo was someone who quietly got on amongst things too never allow defeat or a run of bad cast teach her down.  The agency she came out fighting this flavor amongst renewed vigor should live an inspiration to all; her dogged decision to ever ameliorate volition live a lasting retentiveness of this special rider.”

 

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