Pearson takes eighth gold
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
The British team and Lee Pearson both maintained their unbeaten status in Hong Kong this evening. The team collected a fourth consecutive gold by an impressive margin while Lee Pearson took his Paralympic gold tally to eight.
“It’s crazy to have 100% success at the Paralympics on three different horses,” said Pearson, “It’ll take time for this to sink in, but hopefully it’ll change my life, as it shows I’m definitely not a flash in the pan.”
Staffordshire-based Pearson has never won anything but gold at a Paralympics, winning six gold medals at his previous two Paralympics. Tonight he added the team gold and the grade 1b individual gold, with a score of 73.24%, to take that tally to eight. He will be hoping to make it nine in the freestyle competition on Thursday.
Earlier this year Pearson retired his exceptional horse Blue Circle Boy from competition, a horse he had partnered to win numerous titles. He only began to work with new horse Gentleman in January this year, demonstrating a feat of tremendous skill and dedication to reach this level in such a short space of time. He paid tribute to everyone who had supported him through the last year, which he describes as “tough,” particularly the team and support staff.
Pearson’s result also sealed the team medal for the fourth time, a title the team has held since the equestrian events were introduced to the Paralympics Games in 1996. Britain showed just how good they are by winning the team medal by a huge 26 point margin over second-placed Germany. Lee collected his gold alongside fellow team mates Simon Laurens, Anne Dunham and Sophie Christiansen.
Dunham and Christiansen both shone in their respective tests, picking up gold and silver respectively in the grade 1a individual championship, taking the equestrian medal tally to four. “I still can’t believe it. I’m scared to pinch myself in case I wake up,” said Dunham. “I’m so grateful to my owners, my support team and my country.”
Dunham is contesting her fourth Games and despite winning numerous medals in her competitive career, including two Paralympic team golds and five world championship titles, an individual Paralympic crown had eluded her. She clinched it in style tonight with an impressive 73.10%.
“I am elated to at last win individual gold on a horse I produced myself,” said the Wiltshire-based Dunham. “It’s been a long time coming. As I’ll be 60 this year, this is an early birthday present.”
Christiansen improved on the bronze she won in Athens to take the silver with 72.80%, as the British riders outscored the opposition by four per cent. “It’s finally sunk in,” said Berkshire student Christiansen. “I’m so pleased. I couldn’t have asked for more. I knew it would be close, but I’m really happy for Anne.”
Three other British athletes were in action today; Shropshire-based Ricky Balshaw made his Paralympic debut tonight in the same grade as Pearson and cites him as one of his inspirations. He put in a solid performance to score 64.95% and finish in 5th place.
“I’ve been having a few problems in training, which didn’t show up tonight,” said Balshaw, “I’m really excited about the freestyle. I really enjoyed myself and had great fun. I’ve learnt that I can be a little braver with the horse, as he was full of energy and wasn’t fazed by the atmosphere.”
In the grade III test earlier in the evening luck was not with British riders Debbie Criddle and Simon Laurens, as both their horses reacted to the atmosphere in the imposing arena to keep them out of the medals on this occasion.
“I’m absolutely gutted, because it was within my grasp,” said Athens triple-gold medallist Criddle, “I lost it in one movement and then couldn’t remember where to go next, I lost 10 marks and you can’t win if you lose 10 marks.
“He was spooky and unpredictable from the beginning,” said Criddle, who finished in 5th place on a score of 68.2%. “I need to have him going more forwards in the freestyle, which I am now looking forward to.”
Gloucestershire-based Laurens experienced similar problems as his horse, Ocean Diamond, failed to find the form he had did in the team test and could only manage 62.88% to leave him in 8th place.
“He’s a horse and these things happen,” said Laurens “you have to pick yourself up, smile and crack on.
“The horse warmed up like a star, as he did yesterday, but then I went down the centre line and something startled him in the corner, he was very tense and it was a survival task after that. I came here with individual medal hopes and I hope to be back in top form on Thursday for the freestyle.”
All riders now look forward to the freestyle with Felicity Coulthard performing tomorrow in the grade II and the remaining six riders compete on Thursday 11 September.
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