British team faces tough challenge at Europeans

The British team for the European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships in Deauville, France (18-20 September)hasbeen announced.

Tough challenge

The team of four comprises Sophie Christiansen and Athene Lindebjerg (Grade Ia), Anne Dunham and LJT Lucas Normark (Grade Ia), Lee Pearson and Zion (Grade Ib), and Sophie Wells and Fatal Attraction (Grade IV)

Natasha Baker will compete as an individual in the Grade IIwith her exciting new horse Sookie St James.

The Brits have reigned supreme in Para-Equestrian Dressage since is started in 1996, but new European stars are emerging and the team faces its toughest challenge to date.

New stars

Sophie Christiansenhas dominated the Grade Ia for the last few years. She won three gold medals – team, individual and freestyle – at both the London 2012 Paralympic Games and the Europeans in 2013.

However, she met her match at last year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG), in the guise of Italy’s Sara Morganti. While Sophie took gold in the individual, Sara snatched victory in the freestyle.

Another one to watch in this category is British team member Anne Dunham. The 66-year-oldhas four gold Paralympic medals to her name and won double silver and team gold at the 2013 Europeans.

Head-to-head

One of the biggest surprises at last year’s WEG came courtesy of Dutch rider Rixt Van Der Horst who won gold in the Grade II. It was her first major international, but she knocked outright favourite Natasha Baker off the top spot to take both individual titles.

Rixt will be going head-to-head with Natasha in Deauville, so it should make for an exciting competition.

Ten-time Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson also has his work cut out, as he will be competing against the current double European champion and World silver medalist, Austria’s Pepo Puch.

On the up

Other riders on the up in the Grade 1b are Dutch rider Nicole Den Dulkm who won two bronze medals at WEG, and Denmark’s former World Champion Stinna Tange Kaastrup.

The Grade III is likely to be a battle between Germany and the Netherlands. Until the 2013 Europeans, Germany’s Hannelore Brenner won almost every major championship, but Sanne Voets took her mantle, winning gold in the freestyle at the last Europeans and at WEG.

France will also be hoping for a gold on home turf, with José Letarte competing, who took double bronze at the 2013 Europeans. With the crowd behind him, could this be his year?

International mix

Adding to the international mix is Belgium’s Michèle George. She won gold in the Grade IV individual and freestyle at London 2012, which put Britain’s Sophie Wells in silver position.

Sophie was back on top of the podium at 2013 Europeans, winning three golds, but once again had to settle for silver behind Michèle at WEG last year in the individual and freestyle.

It certainly isn’t a two-horse race, however, as the Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar is also a force to be reckoned with in Grade IV. He won individual and freestyle bronze at the London Games and WEG, as well as double silver at the 2013 Europeans.

Paralympic qualification

A total of 14 countries have entered teams this year’s championships in Deauville, France.

Alongside the three-day battle for medals the competition provides the final chance to gain world-ranking points and qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.