Para-equestrian team

The British team for the 2009 FEI Para Dressage European Championships, which took place in Kristiansand, Norway from 21-23 August, were:

• Sophie Christiansen
Competing in Grade 1a riding the Berkeley Group’s Rivaldo of Berkeley
• Emma Sheardown
Competing in Grade 1a riding her own Purdy’s Dream
• Lee Pearson
Competing in Grade 1b riding his own Gentleman
• Jo Pitt
Competing in Grade II riding Hazel Pitt’s Estralita
• Simon Laurens
Competing in Grade III riding his own Ocean Diamond
• Sophie Wells
Competing in Grade IV riding Dr Jacqueline Walker’s Pinocchio
 

The British Para riders once again captured team gold with team mates Lee Pearson and Sophie Wells bagging an additional two gold medals each. Sophie Christiansen and Emma Sheardown both took home gold and silver, and Simon Laurens completed the tally with two bronze medals.

The British team for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, which took place at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong from 7-11 September, were:

Grade 1a:
Sophie Christiansen and Lambrusco III
Anne Dunham and Teddy

Grade 1b:
Ricky Balshaw and Deacon's Giorgi
Lee Pearson and Gentleman

Grade II:
Felicity Coulthard and Roffelaar

Grade III:
Deborah Criddle and Pavaroti
Simon Laurens and Ocean Diamond

The British para riders retained team gold, a title they have held since the competition began in 1996, with Anne Dunham as a team member on each occasion. Lee Pearson won another three gold medals and has an unbeaten Paralympic record, achieving treble gold at every games since 2000. Sophie Christiansen became the youngest para rider to pick up a gold medal aged 21.

The paras scooped an unprecedented four individual gold and five individual silver medals, making it Britain's most successful games ever.