Great Britain dominates Equestrian, Singapore delights

(HONG KONG, September 9) -- Lee Pearson raised the Union Jack high with his dominating display in the Grade Ib Individual Championship Test to put Team GB at the top, and take their fourth gold in the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games at the HK Equestrian (Shatin) Venue on Tuesday night.

There was, however, an Asian delight to the evening when a Singaporean debutant had a surprisingly good ride and took a bronze medal in the earlier Grade Ia competition.

Pearson's stylish ride on Gentleman put him in first place with a score of 73.238 and his habitual collection of gold medals continues since he burst onto the Paralympics scene at the Sydney 2000 Games. Tonight's win was his 10th Gold.

"It's crazy. One hundred per cent success in the Paralympics with three different horses. I am over the moon," he said with a beam.

His closest opponents were Jens Dokkan (Norwat) who managed a 68.857 to take the silver and Marcos ALVES (Brazil) claimed the bronze with 67.714 points.

Earlier in the evening, there was no stopping the two British para-equestrian riders in the Grade Ia Individual Championship Tests when they swept to gold and silver.

Anne Dunham, who is making her fourth Paralympic appearance and will be celebrating her 60th birthday later this month, had to bring out the best in her gelding Teddy to sweep to the top with a score of 73.1, edging out compatriot Sophie Christensen by the smallest margin.

"My horse is such a good boy and he quite liked the audience, and he likes to show off," a thrilled Dunham said.

In her second Paralympics, Christensen rode her horse Lambrusco III with the utmost cool and assured skills in the walk around the sand-surfaced area and led the field with a score of 72.8 until Dunham stepped into the arena.

"My horse did well and rose to the occasion, but I could hear people talking in the stands. But the horse took it well," the 20-year-old Berkshire girl explained.

Laurentia Tan (Singapore) brought an Asian flavor to the medal honors with her delightful ride on Nothing To Lose. On scoring 68.8 for her bronze, she said she was "very excited and honored to be in my first Paralympics."

"I am very happy and I feel good as the sport gives me passion and it is part of my physiotherapy," Tan added.

In the Grade III Individual Championship test, it was Danish meat in the German sandwich.

Hannelore Brenner (Germany) showed how well she controlled her horse, Women Of The World, in the walk, trot and canter movements to take a comfortable lead of 71.44, just enough to stave off the 71.04 of Lykke Dalskov (Denmark) who admitted: "I couldn't have done better."

In the third place, and a bronze medalist for the second time, was crowd favorite Bettina Eistel (Germany) who guided her horse, Fabuleux 5, with the reins between her teeth and toes. She still managed to get a remarkable 70.88.