Wilson, Wells, Durward-Akhurst and Baker in the medals on final day in Paris

British riders enjoyed one final ride in the inspirational arena at the Chateau de Versailles, concluding the Para Equestrian Dressage in Paris with an outstanding campaign in the race for Freestyle medal glory. In a remarkable effort, Great Britain was the only nation to have four athletes on the Freestyle podium. Georgia Wilson claimed silver in the Grade II, while Sophie Wells, Mari Durward-Akhurst and Natasha Baker each brought home bronze in their respective grades.

Sophie Wells and LJT Egebjerggards Samoa

This morning, under rainy Parisian skies, competition got underway with the Grade 4 Freestyle, though it was the Grade 5 Freestyle that saw the first combination forward for ParalympicsGB – Sophie Wells, pictured above, with the Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Egebjerggards Samoa. Already with Individual bronze in the bag, Sophie and ‘Diana’ capitalised on another medal opportunity to deliver an exquisite performance to win Freestyle bronze. Sophie’s career medal tally now totals an outstanding 10 Paralympic medals and 40 Championship medals.

The pair looked a picture as the elegant young mare, at just eight years of age, was given another confidence-giving experience by her rider. A beautiful test, with just a small but costly anticipation in one of the simple changes, was awarded a score of 75.445% for bronze, behind Belgium’s Michele George and Best of 8 (81.470%) and Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s (80.100%).

“Happy,” was the first reflection Sophie gave. “I'm really pleased. I finished the test and I just thought I couldn't have asked any more from her. The first simple change wasn't perfect, the second simple change wasn't perfect, but we didn't have a horrendous error like yesterday.

“She just felt really cool and it's a simple floorplan because, to some extent, she doesn't need something complicated at this stage in her career. I thought we'd go simple and basic, and hope it's enough for now. She's got another floorplan, which I just wasn't going to do at a Paralympic Games, but I'm chuffed to bits with her. It was amazing to ride in the arena again. I went in and thought, ‘This is the last time,’ so I want to enjoy it, but also not relax too soon. So yeah, [I’m] chuffed to bits. I’m really proud. I'm proud that some of my family are here. I've got a lot of friends, and they got to see it too. So, yeah. What's wrong with me? It’s raining inside my hat,” she said as she wiped away tears.

Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg

Next up for Great Britain was Paralympic debutant Mari Durward-Akhurst and the experienced mare Athene Lindebjerg, owned by Diane Redfern, Nick Durward-Akhurst and her trainer Rob Waine. Mari’s Grade 1 Grand Prix Freestyle test today showed off all the mare’s quality and class, with an accurately ridden performance set to music from Pirates of the Caribbean and Pearl Harbor.

Placing sixth on Tuesday to qualify for the Grade I Freestyle medal contest, their harmonious effort today, showcasing bold and ground-covering walk work from the Gribaldi-sired mare, earned them a tremendous score of 77.747% for the bronze medal and Mari’s first step on a Paralympic podium.

“Yeah, [I’m] really happy,” reflected Mari. “Everything went to plan. It's the first time riding that music in competition, so I was slightly concerned that it might not fit, or something might happen, but everything came off, and especially our shoulder-in, which I find really hard, but she did it. I put her in position, and she went, “I've got this.”

“It's been incredible to finally be able to say that I'm a Paralympian,” she continued. “It’s been a lifetime dream to actually say it now. I think it's starting to sink in. I think I was really disappointed after the first test and with not knowing my score and then, obviously, my score changed, and then to finish sixth – but now I realise actually that's really good in a class of 22.

When asked about her experience, Mari added; “Yeah, it's been amazing. I was really disappointed after the first day, especially as my score changed and went down. It took a bit to get over it, so to actually come back and do the music, is good. And onwards and upwards now.”

Mari is pictured above with Latvia's Rihards Snikus who rode King of the Dance to gold (82.487%) and Italy's Sara Morganti who took silver with Mariebelle (81.407%). 

Georgia Wilson and Sakura

Georgia Wilson and Sakura (Supertramp x Rockstar), who made their Paralympic debut in Tokyo, have proven to be a consistent and reliable combination for the British team. Today, they shone bright in the Grade II Freestyle, scoring a new PB of 79.374% to take silver behind the USA’s Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes (81.994%) and ahead of Heidemarie Dresing and Dooloop who took bronze for Germany with 76.127%.

Georgia, pictured above, rode to the Piano Guys compilation, featuring instrumental covers of BANNERS and Ellie Goulding tracks, that she rode to at the European Championships in Riesenbeck last summer, and it suits 10-year-old mare Sakura’s personality to a tee.

“When I went in there, I was nervous because of the long wait this morning, but I know we've done it before lots of times,” commented Georgia. “Last year, I got a 79% and if I just tried my best to get everything out and get the marks that I could get, it would be a good percentage. She just tried her heart out.  

“When I did my individual test, that was a dream come true and I was going home with a medal, but to go home with two is amazing. I think it’s just incredible, all the training that goes into it and just to pull it off when it's most important… it doesn't happen often, so it’s incredible,” added Georgia.

After having her silver medal confirmed, Georgia commented; “It's amazing. I didn't expect to come here and medal – the first day was amazing and then this one's just a dream come true. I can't describe it. To break out of the bronzes and to get to take a silver back home to Wales is just incredible.

“Suki (Sakura) is like my best friend, I can't thank that horse enough for everything she has done for me. Mum and Dad sold their motorhome, their pension and retirement present, for Suki, but I think she's worth her weight in gold, so I don't think they'll miss the motorhome too much!” she smiled.

But of course, it’s not just one rider and one horse; “No, it's everyone around. Nicky (Lickley), my trainer, sisters, my dad, the World Class squad, National Lottery Funding, the people that play the lottery, too. It's everyone and to just pull it off in the arena where everyone's watching and it's the most important time, it's just fun.”

Natasha Baker and Dawn Chorus

Natasha Baker and her Tokyo 2020 partner, Dawn Chorus, owned by Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, Phil and Lorraine Baker and Natasha, concluded their time in Paris with their second bronze medal of the week. With her husband Marc and young son Joshua watching on, Natasha and the 13-year-old Dimaggio-sired mare performed a beautifully executed programme accompanied by a collection of popular Cher and Shania Twain hits to earn 77.140%.

“Oh, I loved every second of that,” said a delighted Natasha afterwards. “I think I sang every word. It was just so much fun. I loved being out there and I loved dancing to the music. It's been the thing that I've been most looking forward to all week. I'm just super-happy with her again. She was super-chilled and she's just amazing. I'm so, so grateful to her for all the opportunities she's given me over the years and that was just epic.

“I think her way of going was probably a bit better yesterday, actually,” continued Natasha. “She felt a little bit tired today and I wasn't quite sure how she was going to go into the arena because there was more crowd and everything, but she just soaked it all up and loved it. I think I probably could have done with a little bit more, but it’s such a fine line isn't it, with horses. You want that pizzazz, you want that wow, but you don't want so much that they're going to bubble over. She was just awesome. I'm so, so grateful to her because she's just a superstar.”

Speaking about her first Games appearance since becoming a mother, Natasha said; “My whole life was about my sport and riding and that was all I ever focused on. I think I had a fairly good work-life balance, but I just wanted to go and win medals, and now, after having him (one-year-old son Joshua), it just puts everything into perspective. He is the most important thing in my life and he's my proudest achievement. This is amazing and I've done it to make him proud and my whole team proud. I just wanted to come here, enjoy it and do it for my family.

“I want another baby and then to see what happens. I always had Paris in the forefront of my mind. I always wanted to come here, and it was going to be a bit of a mission, probably a naive mission, to get here. But I've managed it and picked up two medals along the way.

“I think this might be Lottie's last Paralympics. She's 13, so she could do Los Angeles, so I think I’ll just see how it goes with her. I really, honestly, don't know. The World Championships is in a couple of years’ time as well, so that'll all depend on baby number two – Joshua was perfectly planned. If that happens again, then I’ll be really blessed, but I’m really lucky that I also get to commentate as well, so that's another really, really cool thing that I get to enjoy,” she said.

Gold went to the USA’s Rebecca Hart and Floratina, who with her compatriots took team gold the previous day, as well as the Individual gold medal earlier in the week.   

Over and out from Paris

So the Para Dressage comes to its end, and for both our teams, the Paris adventure is complete. An impressive medal count by Sophie, Mari, Georgia and Natasha, to add to the two medals won by our Dressage team last month, makes a total of nine medals on the world’s largest stage. Congratulations to all our riders, owners and horses, and thank you to the grooms, who’ve gone above and beyond as always, the support personnel and to all the supporters, both at home and in Paris, who’ve got behind our fantastic horses and riders.

The medallists

Grade 4
Gold – Demi Haerkens and Daula, 83.840% (NED)
Silver – Anna-Lena Niehues and Quimbaya 6, 80.900% (GER)
Bronze – Kate Shoemaker and Vianne, 80.170% (USA)

Grade 5
Gold – Michele George and Best of 8, 81.470% (BEL)
Silver – Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s, 80.100% (GER)
Bronze – Sophie Wells and LJT Egebjerggards Samoa, 75.445% (GBR)

Grade 1
Gold – Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance, 82.487% (LAT)
Silver – Sara Morganti and Mariebelle, 81.407% (ITA)
Bronze – Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg, 77.747% (GBR)

Grade 2
Gold – Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes, 81.994% (USA)
Silver – Georgia Wilson and Sakura, 79.374% (GBR)
Bronze – Heidemarie Dresing and Dooloop, 76.127% (GER)

Grade 3
Gold – Rebecca Hart and Floratina, 83.534% (USA)
Silver – Rixt van der Horst and Royal Fonq, 83.007% (NED)
Bronze – Natasha Baker and Dawn Chorus, 77.140% (GBR)

FULL RESULTS

Catch up on the tests on Channel 4 Sport YouTube

Photos: Kim Lundin / British Dressage