Orford Beats Baker on Day Two of Hartpury

Despite a couple of errors, Pearson again dominated grade Ib.

Results on the second day of Hartpury Festival of Dressage (5 July) were largely the same as the first, apart from in the grade II competition, as Great Britain’s Erin Orford beat teammate Natasha Baker to win gold in the Individual Championships Test.

Sophie Christiansen, Lee Pearson, Deborah Criddle and Sophie Wells all won their second gold medals of the event in their respective grades.

Orford is also part of the eleven-strong group of performance-level riders, from which selectors are expected to choose the athletes who will compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

She scored 75.333% with Nirvana Morroko to take gold, just ahead of European champion, Natasha Baker riding Cabral with 74.667%. Teammate Jo Pitt came third on Estralita with 71.667%.

In grade Ia, Christiansen with 83.450% again achieved an above-80 score. Anne Dunham followed her in second and third place on LJT Lucas Normark with 75.750% and on Teddy Edwards with 75.050%, respectively. Emma Sheardown, who is also up for selection, came fourth on Purdy’s Dream with 70.900%.

Despite a couple of errors, Pearson again dominated grade Ib scoring 76.696% on Gentleman and 72.783% on Zion to take first and second place. Japan’s Nobumasa Asakawa took bronze on 64.087%.

Grade III was very close with Criddle just having the edge with 70.067% on LJT Akilles. Her teammate Nicky Thompson came second with 69.333%.

Wells dominated grade IV again, winning the top two spots. This time it was her horse, Valerius, who won gold with 73.806%, and Pinnochi who came second with 73.000%.

Ireland’s James Dwyer on Orlanda got third place.

The competition continues on Friday (6 July) with the Freestyle Test.

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Natasha Baker is hoping to be selected for the London 2012 Paralympic Games