Britain continued to dominate in the Para-dressage arena, winning team gold by some margin at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy.
Unbeaten
Britain’s Para team has a phenomenal record, winning every championship team medal since international competition began.
In Normandy, they secured an impressive victory in the team competition, scoring 456.024% ahead of The Netherlands in silver (436.941%) and Germany in bronze (432.510%).
All three countries have now secured their qualification for the Rio 2016 Paralympics.Britain’s para riders ended their Championships with a total medal tally of eight; four gold and four silver.
“We came here with the intention of securing first, second or third to qualify for Rio, and got the gold with a large percentage to spare,” said Team GB’s Chef D’Equipe, David Hunter. “I couldn’t be prouder of the team. This is a good position to move on from, and start concentrating on Rio.”
Golden run
Lee Pearson had a phenomenal championships with his gelding Zion, winning both individual golds as well as helping the team to victory. He has now amassed an incredible 22 championship gold medals over a 15 year career.
In his Freestyle, the pair performed to music including Superman, Mission Impossible, We are the Champions and Fame. Lee upped the technicality to match his music choice and wowed the crowds and the judges to be the first, and only, competitor to break the 80% barrier with 80.05%.
Fellow Ricky Balshaw was also in the Grade Ib, and he scored 71.6% to finish sixth on LJT Enggaards Solitaire.
Drama in Grade II
Paralympic heroine Natasha Baker had some ups and downs at this championships. She was part of the gold medal-winning team, but in the individual test she had to settle for silver behind the Netherlands’ Rixt van der Horst.
“Cabral did some of his best ever work. We had a plan to have a little bit more energy and he felt just incredible,” said Natasha, whose gelding Cabral was on his toes during the test. “We had some unfortunate spooks, but they’re horses and it’s just one of those things.”
She’d hoped things would go her way in the Freestyle but unfortunately it was not to be. Cabral was still unsettled and an eventual score of 66.55% left them out of the medals.“I just don’t know what to say; it’s just not been my competition really but that’s horses for you,” she said. “I’m happy I managed to get in my compulsories; it really was freestyle! I’ll live to fight another day – bring on Canada.”
Silver for Wells
In the Grade IV individual test, just over half of a percent put Belgium’s Michele George ahead of Great Britain’s Sophie Wells on Valerius.
Sophie had been keen to redress the balance in the Freestyle test but in the end she had to settle for another silver. “I’m really pleased with how the test went to be honest.I rode every step and couldn’t do anymore,” she said. “There was a mistake at the end of my medium canter but I really thought the rest was good enough.”
Gold and silver
Sophie Christiansen took home two individual medals, finishing with gold in the Grade Ia individual test and gold in the Freestyle.
Riding Janeiro 6, Sophie scored 77.565% to take the gold ahead of Italy’s Sara Morganti on 76.478%. “I feel amazing,” said Sophie afterwards. “I teared up a bit in the national anthem. Today meant a lot to me because I had to come back and fight for the gold medal in a way that I haven’t done recently at least. It made it all a bit more special.”
It was close in the Freestyle but in the end the positions were reversed and the gold went to the Italian rider.
The Grade III competition, in which there were no British competitors, saw Hannelore Brenner take the individual gold and Sanne Voets win the Freestyle gold.