Sport-by-sport - Para-Equestrian Dressage
Deborah Criddle
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| Chairman | Keith Taylor | |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive | Andrew Finding | |
| Performance Director | Will Connell |
Sport Profile
| Funding Award (2009-2013) | £3,605,500 |
| London 2012 Performance | 5 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze |
| Athletes on World Class Programme | 16 |
| Past Performances | Paralympic Games, Beijing, 2008; Gold (5); Silver (5) |
| Press Officer | Philippa Wade |
| Press Officer tel | 02476 698 877 / 07771 525 062 |
| Website | http://www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk |
| National governing body | British Equestrian Federation |
“The biggest thing Lottery Funding gives me is access to world class training. The sports science side is also key; because of my disability I’m really sensitive to the balance of my saddle. Expert saddler Mark Fisher has made such a difference by getting this right for me - National Lottery funding gives me the edge.”
Natasha Baker, Para-Equestrian Dressage Grade II rider
UK Sport’s investment in para-equestrian dressage increased by more than £1million from the Beijing to the London cycle, to over £3.6million, providing world class support for the sport and the 16 athletes on UK Sport’s World Class Programme.
At the Beijing Paralympics, the GB team was dominant, winning five gold and five silver medals to top the medal table ahead of Germany. Lee Pearson added three gold medals to the six he had won previously, in Athens and Sydney, taking his total to an incredible nine Paralympic titles.
Lee Pearson has been in receipt of National Lottery funding since 1999, allowing him to focus as much time as possible on training and preparing for major competitions. Lee is one of nine ‘Podium’ level funded athletes in the para-equestrian dressage squad.
Another top rider, double Paralympic champion Sophie Christiansen, is coached by Clive Milkens, who was selected for UK Sport’s Elite Coaching Apprenticeship Programme (ECAP). ECAP is a two year initiative which aims to accelerate the development of coaches already within the High System, to enable them to have an enhanced impact in the short term, but also to become the elite coaches of the future.
UK Sport supported the 2007 World Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships in Hartpury with up to £200,000 of National Lottery investment, providing athletes with the opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd.
GB para-equestrian athletes have enjoyed a very successful period in the lead up to London 2012, winning 13 medals at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky and helping Britain top the medal table.
At the 2011 Para-Equestrian Dressage European Championships in Belgium, the team won Team Gold, seven individual gold medals and three silver medals.
Did You Know?
Paralympian Lee Pearson set an equestrian world record by being unbeaten at three consecutive Paralympic Games. Lee won three gold medals at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Selected athletes:
Sophie Christiansen (Grade Ia) riding Janeiro 6
Lee Pearson (Grade Ib) riding Gentleman
Natasha Baker (Grade II) riding Cabral
Deborah Criddle (Grade III) riding LJT Akilles
Sophie Wells (Grade IV) riding Pinocchio
