last updated on July 20, 2009 18:26

Sophie Christiansen dominated the grade 1a section of the competition, finishing first and second in all three classes, alternating wins between her Paralympic horse Lambrusco III and new ride, Rivaldo of Berkeley (pictured). The achievement led the 21 year old to take the Supreme Individual Championship of the show with 232 points – just ahead of fellow Paralympian Lee Pearson who finished with 231 points on his Hong Kong horse Gentleman.

“I was very pleased with both horses,” said Sophie, “neither of them put a foot wrong all weekend. I have two of the best horses in the world for a walk test and couldn’t have asked any more of either of them. Having such good horses puts me in a fantastic position, and I’d like to thank my owners – both the Para Dressage training trust, and the Pidgeleys for all they’ve done for me. The selectors have a very difficult decision on which one to choose for the European Championships this year!”

Nineteen year old Sophie Wells from Nottinghamshire, who is also a member of the British Dressage Young Rider Progress Squad pulled off a similar feat in the grade IV section. She rode Dr Jackie Walker’s Pinocchio to victory in the individual, team and freestyle tests posting an impressive score of 77.26% in the freestyle as well as claiming second place in each class with her own Valerius.

Meanwhile Brits Lee Pearson and Simon Laurens also proved unstoppable. In grade 1b Pearson topped both team and individual tests with a consistent 74.70% and 74.92% before an emphatic 81.47% in the freestyle sealed his win on the eight year old bay gelding Gentleman. Laurens also kept his head with Ocean Diamond, leading all three classes in the grade III section ahead of Deb Criddle and Pavaroti and achieving a 79.06% for his Kur ridden to a Latino/Ricky Martin compilation.

It was in grade II that a real tussle for supremacy took place with four British girls in the mix. Erin Orford came out strongly to win the team test riding Diana Barley’s Nirvana Pure Indulgence ahead of Felicity Coulthard on Roffelaar. However Orford was forced to settle for second place in both subsequent classes which were won by Jo Pitt and Estralita. The combination from Aberdeenshire in Scotland took the individual test by just 0.2% and clinched the freestyle on artistic merit when both riders finished on a score of 72.40%. Natasha Baker rode Wald Minor to third place on 72.03% with Coulthard in fourth on 71.57%

Team Championship honours also went to GB with the lineup of Sophie Wells on Pinocchio, Emma Kent on Gentle II, Natasha Baker on Wald Minor and Emma Sheardown on Purdy’s Dream amassing 3124 points. Second were the Irish team with a total of 2570 points and the Japanese team riding borrowed horses came in third on a score of 2016.

A team of six British riders, Sophie Christiansen, Emma Sheardown, Lee Pearson, Jo Pitt, Simon Laurens and Sophie Wells will head off to Norway for the Para Equestrian European Dressage Championships 20 - 24 August.

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