Former NZ horse wins Para-equestrian gold

s Joann Formosa too Worldwide PB are tertiary later the Grade Ib squad examination Former NZ Equus caballus wins Para-equestrian gold — Australia’s Joann Formosa too Worldwide PB. © Liz Gregg/FEI

Two first-time Paralympians have got won gilt medals inwards their respective grades at the London 2012 Paralmypic Games, with 1 causing quite an upset.

Australia’s Joann Formosa too the hanoverian stallion Worldwide PB won gilt inwards Grade Ib ahead of Lee Pearson, Paralympic champion since 2000, and Grade II British passenger Natasha Baker won gilt with Cabral.

Formosa’s Worldwide PB is a genuinely international Equus caballus who was bred inwards Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany – [the ‘PB’ denotes the fact that he is privately too non solid reason bred]. The licenced too approved hanoverian stallion was imported from Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany to New Zealand every bit a immature Equus caballus yesteryear Wanganui studmaster Berny Maubach, of Vollrath Stud. By the Weltmeyer stallion Weltbuerger too from the Brentano II mare Bella, Worldwide was bred by Werner Heitgress. He was used extensively every bit a stallion at Vollrath, and had an impressive ridden career with Maubach’s wife, Jutta Rosenblatt. The dyad won the NZ National Novice Championship too Medium Horse of the Year title, too competed to the bird of Prix St George, earlier existence sold Australian passenger Claire Seidl-Wickens inwards 2006.

Of Worldwide, Formosa said: “He’s a stallion which is real odd for Para-Equestrian sport, but he doesn’t deport similar 1 – fifty-fifty roughly mares. He’s a existent sweetie.”

She bought Worldwide only 7 months ago, was competing non alone at her commencement Games, but inwards her commencement international with this horse.

The combination dethroned the most decorated Para-Equestrian of all time, Lee Pearson, with an elegant too harmonious performance. Their tertiary house on Th had alerted some to her medal potential, but it hadn’t actually crossed anyone’s hear that she would hold upward able to have got on the large guns – Lee Pearson too Pepo Puch – on alone her 2nd international appearance.

The terminal fourth dimension Formosa, 51, competed internationally was inwards 2006 at Hartpury where she commencement met Lee Pearson too prepare her sights on 1 twenty-four hours winning gilt at a Paralympic Games.

“It’s been the goal of my life,” she said emotionally later the prize-giving ceremony, “when I’m out at that spot I experience great. I may non have got bang-up legs, I may hold upward a fleck sluggish on some days, but seat me on a Equus caballus too I am unlike person. I am free”.

From Victoria, she suffered a spinal cord injury inwards a riding mishap 25 years ago.

It wasn’t an slowly project getting at that spot with lots of preparation with constant medical attending too fundraising but thank yous to the formidable Australian team, which she wished could come upward on the podium to have the medal with her, she has achieved what she prepare out to do.

“I wanted to hold upward inwards the range ten, but actually I wanted the gold. I knew what I wanted – I may non hold upward proficient at walking, but I’m proficient at getting what I want,” Formosa said.

Lee Pearson was real humble inwards defeat too genuinely proud of what he had done inwards winning silver. “I am only every bit proud of this silvery medal every bit I am of my gilt medals,” he said later the prize giving ceremony. “It’s a numbers game. There are sports where yous tin alone win 1 medal, whereas I have got 3 chances. I promise to come upward out too redeem myself inwards the freestyle.”

He said he was the most nervous he’d ever been, “mostly because Gentleman is hence insecure. I idea Blue Circle Boy had an odd personality until I met Gentleman. But I was actually pleased with the agency I rode today too with Gentleman – whether that’s plenty I don’t know but if someone rides amend too their Equus caballus goes better, I volition hold upward actually pleased for them.

“It’s been a tough competition, a tough year, too Gentleman is a tough Equus caballus to maintain on range of his game. I’m genuinely delighted with silver.”

After a shaky start inwards the squad examination on Th when Pearson described his ride every bit though Gentlemen’s “engine dropped out of his backside”, this fourth dimension he was a lot happier: “He was much to a greater extent than on side too nosotros had the engine running. He stayed inwards perfect balance. I rode the best examination I could have got done.

“Joann made no mistakes, rode every unmarried stride too had no tension. Gent broke slightly into a jog inwards the walk too that may have got lost me the medal.”

Now known every bit “Mr Come Dine With Me”, he is keeping his music for the freestyle on Mon a closely guarded secret: “I savor the freestyle every bit nosotros tin present off a niggling bit.”

Third house went to quondam number passenger Pepo Puch from Republic of Austria riding Fine Feeling. Puch was range of the FEI Rankings for Grade Ib coming to the Paralympics, hence at that spot were likewise a lot of expectations on his shoulders every bit well, but every bit he said “there are many riders inwards this Grade who are of a real high standard. This course of report was all well-nigh proficient horsemanship – it was real tight”.

He said of Feeling Fine: “She is actually my coach. I used to hold upward a Equus caballus trainer, but at 1 time she trains me. If I’m non balanced inwards the saddle, she volition straighten me out. I’ve had her for 3 too a one-half years too she’s a real spoilt ballerina.”

Puch’s married adult woman too missy (and many Austrians inwards the crowds it seemed) have got been next him every stride of the agency since he was forced to surrender eventing next his accident, producing an impressive cheer for him during the prize-giving ceremony too a warm welcome when he crossed over into Earth surface area of the arena.

Canada’s Ashley Gowanlock finished 6th on Maile, the Equus caballus whom team-mate Lauren Barwick rode to individual gilt too silvery at the 2008 Games.

“Considering I have got been alone riding Maile since June, today’s examination went according to plan,” said Gowanlock, who was likewise a fellow member of the Canadian Team at the 2008 Paralympics. “She is hence smart, hence sort too hence willing to hold upward my partner. It is only fun to ride her.”

“During this test, nosotros had our engine underneath us, hence it felt similar nosotros were going somewhere,” she continued. “I can’t hold back until the Freestyle test. Turn on the music too let’s dance!”

Grade II

While at that spot was disappointment for Great United Kingdom of Great Britain too Northern Ireland with Pearson’s unexpected defeat, the host acre did have got plenty to celebrate later Natasha Baker‘s 12-year dream came true.

The Paralympic débutant, riding Christian Llandolt’s quondam number horse, the handsome Cabral, achieved her childhood dream, gilt at the Paralympics on a Grade II tape score of 76.857%.

“London girl” Baker, who had a nail-biting hold back every bit she was 5th into the arena of 25, said: “We stepped it upward a gear today. We had the best warm-up ever; he was the softest he’s ever been too has never felt hence settled. There are however things nosotros tin improve on; I know there’s to a greater extent than inwards the tank. He actually listens to me when nosotros are nether pressure; he is a super, genuine horse.

“From the historic menstruation of 10 when I watched the Sydney Paralympics on telly I said I would come upward to a Paralympic Games too win a gilt medal,” recalled the 22-year-old.

“I had e'er wanted to hold upward a rider, too to hold upward hither too create what we’ve done today is only incredible. The horses teach inwards what it is – they are only amazing animals. If I have got inspired 1 somebody to become out at that spot too create whatever sport, hence I volition hold upward over the moon. It was Lee Pearson too the other riders who inspired me when I was 10 years old.

“I never expected to win gilt at my commencement Games; I volition teach a postbox now!”

She volition have got some other run a jeopardy to win gilt on Monday, when she competes inwards the freestyle test: “I have got a bang-up flooring excogitation too have got gone for simple. They state less is more.”

Second too tertiary house were unopen on her heels, with defending Paralympic champion Britta Napel taking silvery on a score of 76.048% with Aquilina 3, too High German compatriot Angelika Trabert too Ariva-Avanti inwards bronze medal seat on 76%.

Napel, who runs her ain yard for disabled riders, scored a personal best with 76.857.

Napel too Trabert, whose score volition render Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany with some real valuable points towards the overall mark, have got participated inwards several Paralympics – Angelika is 1 of only 3 Para-Equestrians to have got attended all of the Paralympic Games since equestrian sport joined the programme inwards 1996, piece Napel joined the squad for the 2005 too 2008 editions.

Her teammate Angelica Trabert was alone a fraction behind on 76%. She said: “This is our 5th Paralympics too our commencement Paralympic private medal since Atlanta inwards 1996. This is what we’ve been working towards; it is overnice when the master copy excogitation comes together.”

Dutch passenger Petra van der Sande rode Valencia Z to fourth, piece Ireland’s Eilish Byrne finished 5th with her chestnut gelding Youri.

Speaking later the competition, Byrne said: “I’m only over the moon, I tin hardly believe it. We are all delighted.”

Byrne’s private grade volition hold upward added to the squad examination score from Th to aid create upward one's hear Ireland’s overall squad placing when the remaining 3 riders – Helen Kearney, Geraldine Savage too James Dwyer – consummate their private championships tests on Sunday. Republic of Ireland currently lies inwards 6th house every bit a team.

Like the other riders, Armagh-based Byrne volition have got a farther run a jeopardy to qualify for a medal when the Freestyle competitions have got house on Mon too Tuesday, when all competitors get on a null score.

Canada’s Lauren Barwick rode Off To Paris to 6th house with a score of 71.857%.

“There were some actually bang-up things well-nigh my examination today,” Barwick said. “It is a challenging examination for my Equus caballus too I, but overall I was actually pleased with how she went inwards the ring. Our musical freestyle is on September 3, too I am actually looking frontwards to that test.”

Canada’s National Coach Andrea Taylor was pleased with the rides of both Barwick too Gowanlock inwards the Grade Ib.

“Watching Ashley become today was honestly 1 of my proudest coaching moments,” she said. “I have got been working with Ashley for a few years too only to meet her order Maile to walk frontwards too have got a jeopardy was great. She came out of the band feeling confident too happy with her test, which was fantastic to see.

“Lauren did a real proficient project riding a mare that is athletic too who tin hold upward a technical Equus caballus to ride. Lauren did a fantastic project helping the mare today. With thousands of spectators, the atmosphere is real electric, too she gave the mare confidence inwards the ring.”

• The crowd greeted the medallists with a Mexican moving ridge that toured the arena at to the lowest degree 4 times too made for an exceptionally moving prize-giving ceremony.

And at the terminate of each test, too at the asking of surely riders, the crowds are told to refrain from clapping until the Equus caballus is with the handler – hence instead of clapping, Earth have got taken to waving their hands too flags inwards the air, producing a still but real visual clap too every bit presently every bit the handlers are inside reach, the crowds allow loose.

Results – Grade Ib

Rk	Bib	Rider	Horse	Result	+
1	101	FORMOSA J	WORLDWIDE PB	75.826	+
2	109	PEARSON L	GENTLEMAN	75.391	+
3	102	PUCH P	FINE FEELING	75.043	+
4	115	WENTZ J	RICHTER SCALE	70.348	+
5	106	KARJALAINEN K	ROSIE	69.739	+
6	105	GOWANLOCK A	MAILE	69.304	+
7	111	DOKKAN JL	LEOPOLD	69.000	+
8	108	SALLES V	MENZANA D’HULM	68.087	+
9	112	DUARTE S	NEAPOLITANO MORELLA	66.261	+
10	107	KIVIMAKI J	GRIVIS	65.957	+
11	104	SALAZAR PESSOA D	DAUERBRENNER	65.261	+
12	110	ASAKAWA N	ROSADO	62.826	+
13	113	MILNE M	SHADOW	62.826	+
14	103	FERNANDES ALVES M	LUTHENAY DE VERNAY	62.609	+
15	114	TAN M	AVALON	59.304

Results – Grade II

Rk	Bib	Rider	Horse	Result	+
1	207	BAKER N	CABRAL	76.857	+
2	208	NAPEL B	AQUILINA 3	76.048	+
3	209	TRABERT A	ARIVA-AVANTI	76.000	+
4	218	VAN DE SANDE P	VALENCIA Z	74.476	+
5	210	BYRNE E	YOURI	73.429	+
6	205	BARWICK L	OFF TO PARIS	71.857	+
7	217	BOLMER G	VORMAN	70.143	+
8	203	MINNECI B	BARILLA	70.095	+
9	213	VERATTI S	ZADOK	69.905	+
10	206	NIELSEN C	LEON	69.048	+
11	223	HART R	LORD LUDGER	68.286	+
12	214	BAITENMANN HAAKH E	CASABLANCA	68.095	+
13	212	SALVADE F	COME ON	67.381	+
14	204	MELARANCI E	ZABELLE	66.952	+
15	221	MOLLER W	FIRST LADY VAN PRINS	66.000	+
16	202	HALLER T	HALLERS DESSINO	65.143	+
17	222	DEDRICK D	BONIFATIUS	64.619	+
18	220	DAWSON A	ROFFELAAR	64.571	+
19	219	GUNNER A	HUNTINGDALE INCOGNITO	63.762	+
20	216	OTHEGUY GONZALEZ M	WELTON ADONIS	61.667	+
21	215	FIGUEROA ROMERO F	UWANNABEMINE	58.810	+
–	201	BOWMAN G	KIRBY PARK JOY	EL	+
–	211	CECILIA A	CORLORD	EL	+