Para-Rider Grabs Gold For Britain At The World Equestrian Games
Para-dressage rider, Sophie Wells, continued Britain’s gold rush at this year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tyron, by achieving gold in the Grade V Individual Championship.
An already decorated Wells rode eleven-year-old Fidertanz gelding, C Fatal Attraction to victory. Despite a less than perfect test, Wells and C Fatal Attraction mistakenly cantering out of their first halt instead of trotting, they finished on a score of 75.43%.
Photo FEI/Liz Gregg
Wells, who claimed her last world title in 2010, said;
This feels amazing, I’m so chuffed. I missed out on gold in Normandy in 2014, and it feels like a long time to get a chance to try again. I’m just so proud of Jorge — it’s been a long journey, and this means such a lot. He came out today and he wanted to work and wanted to do it. But I think there’s even more in the tank for later in the week.”
Frank Hosmar and Alphaville NOP clinched the silver medal, finishing with a score of 73.17%.
Germany took the bronze medal with Regine Mispelkamp and Look At Me Now’s performance, competing in their first ever season of para-dressage.
In the Grade II Individual Championship, earlier in the day, there was disappointment for British rider, Lee Pearson. Pearson, unfortunately, decided to retire his nine-year-old homebred mare, Styletta, as she became unsettled.
She seems to be struggling a bit with the humidity here. She’s only nine years old; she’s a spectacularly powerful horse and each day she’s been here she’s been feeling like she’s struggling a bit with the weather.”
“I didn’t want to retire; I’m passionate about doing my best in the arena for my country but I felt that it was the right thing to do.”
The Individual Para-Championships is set to continue tomorrow, as Natasha Baker and Erin Orford take on the Grade III division, for Team GBR. Baker and Mount St John Diva Dannebrog will hit the stage at 9:30 am (2:30pm BST), whilst Orford and her ride Dior will compete at 12:18pm (5:18pm).
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