last updated on July 20, 2010 12:42

Team GB showed they will be a force to reckon at the upcoming World Championships winning both the team title and 14 of the 15 individual titles on offer at the 2010 Hartpury CPEDI*** Para International Competition14-16 July.

“Thanks Edward Gal,” were Lee Pearson’s words after three superb performances on his Beijing triple gold medallist Gentleman (pictured) netted team and individual titles in the grade 1b, “seriously I’ve never met the guy but I watched some video of his masterclass at the Festival Of The Horse and I tried it out on Gentleman and it has been a major step forward for both of us.” Lee went on to say, “he was using bend to soften his horse but holding out until the horse gave to him and then allowing the horse to stretch and straighten. Lack of strength in the arms is a big problem for me and this has made everything so much easier."

Anne Dunham, another of GB’s gold medallists from Beijing, was in superb form in the grade 1a riding Teddy Edward to win the team and individual test before dead heating in the freestyle fellow GB rider Emma Sheardown and Purdys Dream. “He is a superstar and he knows it,” said Anne of the welsh cob gelding, “when I first saw him I knew that he had it in him as he had such a natural walk it was just a question of getting him to show it under saddle and he has just got better and better. He was particularly good in the second test here-he was relaxed and rhythmical and completely on my wavelength.”

Jo Pitt and Estralita were edged out of a win in the team test in the grade II by Erin Orford and Nirvana Sheer Indulgence but went up a gear to win the individual and freestyle test, the latter with 77.167%. “He got better each day,” said Jo, “he’s improving all the time.” Jo qualified the eight-year-old for the Winter Regionals early in the year but too much snow cancelled the outing, “I have concentrated on the paras since then and we have worked very hard on his spookiness, Mum has been running up and down the arena pushing wheely bins past him as anything with wheels is a big challenge for him but it has certainly paid off.”

Simon Laurens was delighted when his ‘little treasure’ Ocean Diamond won the individual title from close rival Debbie Criddle and Pavarotti. “It has been a big challenge adapting to the new tests they brought in after last year’s European Championships, “although the movements required are the same the tests do not flow as much and they do require more strength to ride,” said Simon, “but ‘Derek’ is such a star-how many people buy a horse which goes on to win them seven medals, five National titles and is safe, sensible and sound-he’s one in a million.”

Irish rider Rosemary Gaffney took the overall title at Grade IV level with British purchase Aldam Mill Dubloon making the most of the absence of Sophie Wells who won the grade IV team and individual tests riding Valerius but missed competing in the freestyle as she was on her way to compete at the European Championships on the Young Rider team.

full results below:

Team Test

Grade 1a
1, Teddy Edward (Anne Dunham) 75.09%
2, Rivaldo of Berkeley (Sophie Christianson) 74.70%
3, Purdy’s Dream (Emma Sheardown) 73.52%

Grade 1b
1, Gentleman (Lee Pearson) 75.15%
2, Zion (Lee Pearson) 72.27%
3, Academy Award (Ricky Balshaw) 71.81%

Grade II
1, Nirvana Pure Indulgence (Erin Orford) 72.22%
2, Estralita (Jo Pitt) 71.58%
3, Cabral (Natasha Baker) 69.84%

Grade III
1, Pavaroti (Debbe Criddle) 69.38%
2, Ocean Diamond (Simon Laurens) 68.27%
3, Gentle III (Emma Kent) 67.77%

Grade IV
1,Valerius (Sophie Wells) 70.41%
2, Latino (Angela Lyons) 65.72%
3, Aldam Mill Dubloon (Rosemary Gaffney) 65.62%

Individual

Grade 1a
1, Gentleman (Lee Pearson) 76.66%
2, Academy Award (Ricky Balshaw) 73.04%
3, Zion (Lee Pearson) 72.31%

grade 1b
1, Teddy Edward (Anne Dunham) 74.83%
2, Purdy’s Dream (Emma Sheardown) 73.66%
3, Rivaldo of Berkeley (Sophie Christianson) 72.50%

grade II
1, Estralita (Jo Pitt) 72.22%
2, Nirvana Pure Indulgence (Erin Orford) 72.06%
3, Cabral (Natasha Baker) 71.27%

grade III
1, Ocean Diamond (Simon Laurens) 71.00%
2, Pavaroti (Debbie Criddle) 67.88%
3, Gentle II (Emma Kent) 66.33%

Grade IV
1, Valerius (Sophie Wells) 73.54%
2, Tango V (Rosie Andrews) 64.19%
3, Weslt Santa Cruz (Nicky Thompson) 63.76%

Freestyle

Grade 1a
1, Gentleman (Lee Pearson) 79.66%
2, Zion (Lee Pearson) 76.33%
3, Academy Award (Ricky Balshaw) 75.66%

grade 1b
1, Purdy’s Dream (Emma Sheardown) 74.66%
1, Teddy Edward (Anne Dunham) 74.66%
3, Rivaldo of Berkeley (Sophie Christansen) 72.66%

grade II
1, Estralita (Jo Pitt) 77.16%
2, Youri (Eilish Byrne) 71.66%
3, Cabral (Natasha Baker) 70.66%

grade III
1, Pavaroti (Debbie Criddle) 73.83%
2, Ocaen Diamo (Simon Laurens) 73.08%
3, Gentle II (Emma Kent) 69.58%

grade IV
1, Aldam Mill Dubloon (Rosemary Gaffney) 73.08%
2, Tango V (Rosie Andrews) 71.88%
3, Wels Santa Cruz (Nicky Thompson) 70.41%

Individual Overall Champion

Grade 1a
1, Anne Dunham
2, Emma Sheardown
3, Sophie Christiansen

grade 1b
1, Lee Pearson
2, Ricky Balshaw

 grade II
1, Jo Pitt
2, Erin Orford
3, Natasha Baker

grade III
1, Simon Laurens
2, Debbie Criddle
3, Emma Kent

 grade IV
1, Rosemary Gaffney
2, Rosie Andrews
3, Nicky Thompson