Abigal Lyle, Northern Ireland Sport Athlete Award Recipient

Dressage

Ireland

Irish dressage team rider Abigal Lyle has become the recipient of the Northern Ireland Sport Athlete Award, which entails a grant to support her path towards the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Based in Northumberland, Lyle represented Ireland at the 2022 World Championships Dressage in Herning with her 11-year old KWPN gelding Giraldo (by Rousseau x Flemmingh). Abi trains with Carl Hester.

Massive Help

After being identified as a Paris 2024 prospect, Arty (Giraldo) and I are so grateful to announce that we have received a Sport Northern Ireland Athlete Award," Lyle stated on her social media.

"This award will prove a massive help towards continuing to campaign at major shows abroad and receive vital training over the coming period in the run up to Paris," she said. "I’d like to say a huge thank you to Sport Northern Ireland and to Horse Sport Ireland for your support. I am incredibly honoured and grateful."

Carolyn Mellor

Carolyn Mellor, member of tge Irish team at tge 2021 European Championships in Hagen, also received the award for the second, consecutive year.

“Delighted to have received for a second year a Sport NI athlete award,” she wrote. “To be awarded this bursary for a second year is amazing and I am so grateful for this financial help . Competing in Europe is so expensive but our journey towards Paris 2024 is an honour and this bursary will again be of great assistance.”

Supporting Northern Irish Athletes

The "Northern Ireland Sport Athlete Award Programme opens on an annual basis to sports that have Commonwealth, Olympic or Paralympic events. Nominations by the Governing Bodies are made on behalf of athletes that have a requirement for additional financial support. This may be due to a change in circumstances, a transition period within their sporting career or financial hardship.

Horse Sport Ireland received an Athlete Award investment of £20,000 euro during the 2023/23 period. A total of £375,675 of funding was allocated to 24 sports, to support 128 athletes.