Valiant effort by Para team trio for Paris placing

Britain's para dressage team of Sophie Wells, Georgia Wilson and Natasha Baker put in a valiant effort on Friday at the Paralympic Games, finishing outside of the medal positions but producing three performances to be proud of. 

First to go on the tense team test day at the Paralympic Games would be Sophie Wells, bringing her youthful yet talented partner The Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Egebjerggards Samoa forward for the Grade 5 Grand Prix B test. Sophie rode with plenty of tact and skill to ensure that Samoa gained confidence from the experience in front of a bustling Versailles audience. Their test was rewarded with 70.895%, with the highlights well praised and the small moments of excitement well-managed by Sophie. 

“I’m kicking myself if I’m absolutely frank,” Sophie reflected after her test. “She felt so good going in, so much better than we finished the other day. I literally just relaxed for a second in the extended trot and I was like ‘sh*t’ and then for the simple change I didn't really feel it coming. Obviously, she surged out into the half-pass and I was like ‘no just be patient, get her back’ and I clearly got the timing wrong. But, we got it back, we did the rest of the test, and got my last halt and rein-back, which sometimes can be a bit of a tricky movement on the centre line, so I was pleased with that. She felt really chilled coming out so I’m positive for tomorrow. I just feel like I haven't quite done my part of the team.”

Next up would be Grade 2 Individual medallist Georgia Wilson with  Geoff and Julie Wilson and her own Sakura. The ten-year-old mare and her talented rider are fast becoming an incredibly safe pair of hands for Great Britain and they proved that once again today, delivering 73.300% for a really well executed, accurate and enjoyable test. Georgia's ability to perform under pressure was truly under the microscope today and she more than lived up to the occasion. 

“I’m feeling bit relieved, but I was pleased with Suki. She tripped over a few times at the start, but we got there in the end and produced some really nice work. There are some bits I could maybe be critical about, but you're always critical about any test. When I went in the first day, I was wanting to get those marks, and I feel I can do that with Suki now. I can go in there and try my best and get all the marks I can get out of the judges,” Georgia reflected after her test. 

"I think she's got better throughout the week and feels a bit more at home – you just want to try your best.”

Multi-medalled para equestrian star Natasha Baker was the final rider to take to the centre line. With  Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, Phil and Lorraine Baker and her own Dawn Chorus, Natasha produced a Grade 3 Grand Prix B test that was quite outstanding; the harmony between Natasha and her Dimaggio-sired is plain for all to see and the quality of work they produced in front of the Palace of Versailles was admirable. The judges rewarded their performance with a fantastic 75.367% - Britain's highest contributing team score of the day. 

“I'm so thrilled with her. She went in there and she just grew in confidence from the individual day and I could ask for a little bit more, hence the two percent increase in score. I'm just super, super-happy. Her balance was much better and she stayed with me again and stayed really relaxed. I just can't wait for tomorrow now, I'm so excited,” said Natasha following her test.

“I just wanted to build each day – that was my aim coming here, I wanted to give her a really good safe clear round in the first day and then just build on it as the days went on, and I feel like I’ve done that today. Tomorrow, I think I can really go in there and go for it. Tomorrow is my best test – it's to my amazing music and it's the floor plan that I’ve choreographed to show her off at her best, so I just can't wait to do that tomorrow and dance to my music. 

“Do you know what? I'm so proud of my performance, but I'm also so proud of Sophie and Georgia. They both rode beautifully, and do you know what? All you can do is come to a Games and ride your best, right? And that's exactly what the girls have done. We thought that we might not be bringing home a medal in the team and it's fine. We'll live to tell another tale tomorrow and, hopefully, we can come back with some individual medals.” 

As Paralympics GBs domination of the Paralympic podium came to an end, a dazzling trio of performances by the USA team delivered the gold medal, whilst the Netherlands were hot on their heels, finishing just a handful of points behind. Germany completed the podium, as six nations could've easily taken the remaining spot, proving how competitive the sport has become. 

Concluding on Britain's performance, team stalwart Sophie Wells' reflected: "We were quite aware coming into it [the Games]. In 2018, we didn't get the team gold and for the Worlds in 2022, we didn't win a team medal. The sport has come on so much and it's amazing and it's exactly what it should be. Nations like America, Holland, Germany, Denmark and Belgium – they've really come on and overtaken us, and that's what sport should be. It shouldn't be predictable, should it? We've got to go home, work hard and get back out fighting.”

All four riders return for tomorrow's Freestyle medal showdown, as Mari Durward-Akhurst rejoins the team trio for her shot at podium glory too. We wish all four riders the best of luck and look forward to supporting via Channel 4 Sport on YouTube.

Results

Gold – United States of America, 235.567

Silver – The Netherlands, 232.850

Bronze – Germany, 223.751

4. Italy, 223.166

5. France, 220.506

6. Great Britain, 219.562

7. Belgium, 219.189

8. Denmark, 214.800

9. Austria, 209.125

10. Ireland, 208.545