Sir Lee Pearson pulled off an incredible 12th Paralympic gold at the Tokyo Games today. Riding his own Breezer, the Your Horse Live favourite scored a personal best of 76.265% in the Grade II.
It was an incredible first day for Team GB, who secured three individual medals.
Lee Pearson riding Breezer Photo Credit: British Equestrian/ Jon Stroud Media
Second place in the grade II went to Austria’s Pepo Puch on Sailer’s Blue, ahead of Britain’s Georgia Wilson and Sekura, who claimed bronze.
Georgia and Sekura — the horse’s name means cherry blossom and is the national flower of Japan — also scored a personal best when finishing on 72.765%.
This is Georgia’s Paralympics debut and she was initially named as a reserve for the British team, but travelled to the Games when 10-time Paralympic medallist Sophie Christiansen had to withdraw her horse Innuendo III due to a minor veterinary issue.
In the Grade IV, the Netherland’s Sanne Voets won gold, Brazil’s Rodolpho Riskalla took silver and Belgium’s Manon Claeys claimed the bronze.
Wells nets silver
Belgium triumphed in the Grade V with Michele George on Best of 8 claiming gold ahead of Britain’s Sophie Wells in silver with Don Cara M. Bronze went to the Netherland’s Frank Hosmar aboard Alphaville.
The original British call up up named C Fatal Attraction, whom Sophie took triple gold with at the World Equestrians Games in 2018, as Sophie’s Games partner. However, the horse was ruled out owing to a fitness issue and Sophie’s direct reserve Don Cara M — who is known at home as ‘Donnie’ — stepped in.
The individual tests continue tomorrow (Friday 27 August) with the Grade I and Grade III.
Great Britain’s Natasha Baker will be competing in the Grade III riding Keystone Dawn Chorus. She will be looking to add another medal to the five gold medals she won at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic games.
The Team Test to Music commences on Saturday 28 August, with the individual freestyle rounding off the equestrian competition on Monday 30 August.
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