Formosa and Baker take equestrian gold

“My heart's going at a thousand beats a minute. It was a nice test the other day, but today I stepped it up a gear."

Australian Joann Formosa caused an upset by denying Great Britain’s Lee Pearson an 11th Paralympic title, while Paralympic debutant Natasha Baker clinched gold in her class.

Formosa overhauled Pearson to take gold in the dressage Grade Ib individual championship.

Pearson has won three gold medals in each of the last three Paralympic Games, and had led with five riders remaining, only for the 51-year-old Formosa's score of 75.826% to send her top at Greenwich Park.

"He's such a great ambassador,” Formossa said of Pearson.

“I feel very honoured just to be in the top 10 with him, but to beat him still hasn't hit home yet.

“This has been my goal all my life. I dream it. It's the flame in my heart.”

Pearson insisted he was not disappointed with second place.

“I'm really pleased with silver, genuinely,” he said.

He also has two more chances to equal the 11 golds of Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Dave Roberts, in the team and freestyle events.

Great Britain rider Baker won gold in the Grade II individual equestrian event.

Riding Cabral on her Paralympic debut, Baker set a Grade II record of 76.857%, with Germans Britta Napel and Angelika Trabert second and third respectively.

“That was the most amazing feeling ever,” Baker said.

“My heart's going at a thousand beats a minute. It was a nice test the other day, but today I stepped it up a gear.

“I can't believe how much difference the last two days have made to me as a rider. I am so much stronger, and more confident.”