World Para Dressage Championships 2007

British riders take honours

22 July 2007

Great Britain, Germany and Norway all clinched their place at next year's Paralympic Games by taking the team medals at the end of competition at Hartpury.

More individual British gold medals were provided by : Anne Dunham Grade Ia, Lee Pearson Grade Ib, Simon Laurens Grade III and Michelle Crunkhorn Grade IV. It's a remarkable result for the home team and is more than deserved for a country whose dedication to disabled sport and Para-Equestrian has beenproven time and time again.

Germany also gained five qualification slots to the Paralympic Games, with Britta Napel Grade II, Angelika Trabert Grade II, Hannelore Brenner Grade III and Bettina Eistel also from Grade III.

Norway took the bronze after just edging out Brazil. Norway's qualifiers for the Paralympic Games are: Jens Lasse Dokkan Grade Ib, Silje Guillund Grade III, Ann Cathrin Lubbe Grade IV and Sigrid Rui also Grade IV.

For a full run down of the results check the FEI web site at www.horsesport.org.

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Grade II Freestyle

22 July 2007

With the weather finally improving slightly, the final day of competition saw some top performances outdoors on the Parkway Arena. The Grade II Freestyle was particularly close between the eventual winner Britta Napel of Germany on Durbridge 28 and GB's Nicola Tustain riding Hotstuff. Napel took the prize with 73.552% to Tustain's 73.330%.

Laurens strikes gold

22 July 2007

GB's Simon Laurens on Ocean Diamond won the Grade III Freestyle in the Hartpury Arena ahead of team mate Deborah Criddle. Simon's winning score was 75.162% .

Pearson passes his test

21 July 2007

Lee Pearson was delighted to win the Grade 1b Individual Test on Saturday morning on board Altino. They finished with a score of 77.333%, comfortably ahead of Australia's Nicole Kullen with Worleston Billy and third placed finisher Ricky Balshaw of Great Britain with Deacons Giorgi.

Constance takes Freestyle honours

20 July 2007

Constance Menard from France riding Lianca was a popular winner of the CDI Grand Prix Freeestyle in the evening session at the Hartpury Arena on Friday. The pair finished on 72.6% to take first place ahead of Britain's Stephanie Croxford on Mr President and Kate Attlee on Teutone II.

Rain can't dampen Debbie's day

20 July 2007

It was rain rain and a bit more rain on day two of the World Para Dressage Championships. But it didn't dampen spirits and the show went on.

Current Para Olympic gold medal holder Debbie Criddle was the highlight of the day for Great Britain. She pipped Denmark's Annika Lykke Dalskov by one point to win the morning's Grade three test in the main indoor arena. There was also a great ride for Simon Larens in his first ride for the GB team. He finished third behind Criddle and Dalskov. Not bad for someone who only started in the sport two years ago.

The outdoor arenas, or what's left of them, fought off the monsoon like conditions for most of the morning, but eventually had to succumb to mother nature and competitors were moved into Hartpury's old indoor arena. Much to the relief of the spectators, officials, riders and almost certainly the horses.

19 July 2007

Gareth Hughes was a double winner on the first day of competition at the FEI World Para Dressage Championships.

Riding in the CDI Prix St. George which proceeded the main Para classes, Hughes finished first and second on his two horses, Korenbloem Sandman and Ramazzotti.

Sandman finished with 69.050% and Ramazotti was not far behind on 68.7%. Third place went to another Briton, Damian Hallam on Spirit Freedom (68.25%).

We can bring you exclusive highlights from Hughes' two dressage tests with more action to come tomorrow. You can also enjoy our coverage of the Opening Ceremony.

Opening Ceremony

18 July 2007

Sportuk.tv's cameras are at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire all this week for the FEI World Para Dressage Championships.

The Championships got under way with Wednesday night's spectacular opening Ceremony.

Great Britain has been the leader in Paralympic Equestrian Sport and the results of our Para riders is one of national pride.

These World Para Dressage Championships will be the last major international competition for Para Riders before the Beijing Olympics in 2008, therefore they have a significant role as selection trials for the Paralympics. It promises to be an exciting and intensely competitive championships.