Bunbury student wows in online global equestrian competition

A Bunbury student has scored silver medals in a unique global online equestrian competition. Bel Dabic, a Year 11 student from Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, competed in the Virtus Open European Equestrian Championships. Virtus is the global organisation which governs and promotes sports for athletes with an intellectual impairment, with the event having riders submit footage according to strict regulations. Bel has been riding since she was five years old, and competed with a 19-year-old horse named Tommy, who was borrowed from nearby stables. The pair were matched based on her video competitions and reports from coaches. Bel said she enjoyed the challenge of bonding with a new horse. “It was a bit daunting to ride a new horse and it was really challenging to do so,” she said. “I really enjoyed meeting my horse Tommy, and really making an effort to connect with him so we could connect in the arena.” Bel had a team of Australian coaches to guide her, including former student Sharon Jarvis, who is in the UK training as a reserve for the Australian Paralympic dressage team. “I was really lucky to have such a supportive team, including my fellow competitors and the coaches who included my home dressage coach Sharon,” Bel said. “I am really grateful to Virtus and Sport Inclusion and all the volunteers and organisers that create these kinds of opportunities for me and my fellow team members.”