Team GBR

Britain’s equestrian team are on track to maintain their unbeaten Paralympic Games record as they chalked up three impressive 70-plus scores in the evening session at Hong Kong’s Sha Tin racecourse, giving them a comanding 16 point lead over nearest rivals Germany at the halfway stage

With the individual test scores still to come they look set to win their fourth consecutive Paralympic team gold.

Lee Pearson proved why he is a six-times gold medallist as he coaxed his young and inexperienced horse, Gentleman, through the test in the intimidating arena to score an impressive 73.29%. That put him at the top of the grade 1b team test by a clear margin.

The large arena with its imposing screen and big audiences can unnerve some horses and Pearson had a tough job to settle Gentleman at the start of the test.

“For a young horse it was a good job in there,” said Pearson. “I wish there was a bit more to the team test to keep him thinking but there isn’t at this stage.

“He didn’t seem to be very keen on the audience and felt very nervous. He’s been quite inconsistent throughout quarantine, and since we’ve been out here in Hong Kong, so I’m really pleased with how it went. He can sometimes be a bit argumentative.

“He is a young horse and I can only take each day as it comes,” added Pearson. “It was quite nerve-wracking for both me and the horse before we went in. He has only done about 10 dressage tests in his life and he has a big personality to work with – the relationship I have with him has to be a bit like a marriage.”

Anne Dunham and Sophie Christiansen both added to Pearson’s good score, finishing first and second respectively in the grade 1a test. Twenty-year-old Christiansen is looking to add to the bronze medal she won in Athens, where she made her Paralympic debut, and with a score of 72% today she looks set to reach that gold.

“I’m really happy to add a good score to the team,” said Christiansen. “I feel under pressure to help win the team gold because we have won it on every occasion since they introduced equestrian to the Paralympics. It was a big ask but I think I handled it well and I’m looking forward to the next test now.”

With four Games behind her, 59-year-old Dunham is the most experienced equestrian in the team and it showed as she produced a calm and confident test to chalk up an impressive 75.18%.

“The horse was brilliant, he was an absolute darling and did everything I asked,” said a delighted Dunham. “I’m so proud of him and I definitely enjoyed it.

“It was the score I was aiming for. Anything over 70 would have been fine but I was aiming for 75. I hope to produce the same again on Tuesday in the individual, maybe even higher.

“I loved it in there and the horse wasn’t distracted. I was calm and he was calm,” she added. “I don’t think about anything when I am in the arena but the ride, the arena and my daughter who calls the test for me – that is all I focus on.”

Simon Laurens posted a strong score of 69.54% in the morning session which will now be discarded as only the three best scores count towards the final team mark. He is hoping that the lessons learned in the team test will allow him to produce a score over 70 in the next round.

The team riders are in action in individual championship competitions Tuesday 9 September. Their scores in these events will complete the team score.