The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games has been in action for just six days and is already making history with its inclusive feel, spectacular venues and, of course, incredible sporting action. However, today was the turn of the para equestrian events to enter the fray and, with 78 competitors from around the globe, it’s the largest ever entry at a Paralympic Games. Utilising the same imposing arena at the Palace of Versailles that hosted the Olympic action, it was time to write the next chapter of history with the individual Grand Prix A competition for Grades 3, 2 and 1 respectively.
Grade 3 – Natasha Baker and Dawn Chorus
The para equestrian portion of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games got underway this morning in typically British conditions. The spectacular backdrop of the Palace of Versailles was partially obscured by low cloud, which delivered heavy rain for much of the morning, but the Grade 3 competitors lifted the mood by setting the arena alight.
Third to go in the lineup was Natasha Baker, making her fourth consecutive appearance for ParalympicsGB, having made her debut on home soil at London 2012. Paris is a new experience for the Uxbridge-based rider because it marks the first time she’s represented her country on the world stage as a mum. She and husband Marc Jaconelli welcomed Joshua in April 2023 and her maternity leave resulted in a year out of the saddle. Natasha has since put a huge effort into building herself back up to competition fitness, while her equine partner, Dawn Chorus, was trained and competed by her long-term coach, Lisa Hopkins.
The duo only returned to competition in May this year, but their form showed they had picked up right where they left off in Herning, Denmark for the FEI World Championships in 2022 and they duly earned a place in Paris – their second Paralympic Games together.
Natasha and Dawn Chorus, who she owns alongside Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt and her parents Phil and Lorraine, entered the arena under the watchful eyes of the five-strong ground jury comprising the president at C, Anne Prain (FRA), Ineke Janse (NED), Suzanne Cunninghmah (AUS), Kristi Wysocki (USA) and Freddy Leyman (BEL), with Natasha sporting a huge smile to instantly put the judges in a positive mood.
They were straight away into an active, forward performance, with Natasha using the arena well to garner every mark from her British-bred partner. The accuracy was impressive and, as is the pairing’s way, it had great harmony throughout. The tricky turn-on-the-haunches was expertly negotiated in good balance, as was the rein-back, and the transitions were all accurate and smooth. The marks were flowing well and, as she turned down the centreline, the grin returned to Natasha’s face – a clear sign she was pleased with the performance but, even more so, her equine partner.
As they excited the arena, there were huge pats for ‘Lottie’ and an acknowledging wave to the crowd, which contained a good showing of British support, as they erupted into ‘butterfly waving’ – the para equestrian equivalent of the crowd going wild, but keeping quiet so as not to upset the horses. There was also a kiss blown in the direction of husband Marc and her number-one fan, Joshua, appropriately adorned in a beret and with a Union Flag to wave.
The final scores came in and their mark was revealed as 73.167% – a great start to their campaign and enough for the lead at this early stage.
“I’m so thrilled – she was such a superstar,” said a teary Natasha after her test. “I just wanted a nice, relaxed test and that’s what we delivered. She stayed with me all the way – we didn’t quite have much pizazz as I would like in ideal circumstances, but I didn’t get any tension either and that was exactly what I wanted.
“It’s quite a big atmosphere here and she’s never been into anything like that. In Tokyo, there were obviously no crowds, no audience, so I didn’t know how she’d react, but she was such a star, so we can ramp it up as the week goes on.
“I’ve had her for nearly five years, but I’ve been out of the white boards for 20 months so, although it’s been three years since Tokyo, I’ve missed much of that time by having a baby. I still feel our partnership is relatively new, but she was amazing. I trust her with my life and we have the most amazing relationship, it’s incredible – I call her Mary Poppins because she’s practically perfect in every way,” she added.
It was clearly an emotional day for Natasha and a test of firsts, so what did today mean for the four-time Paralympian?
“As I went in, I started to well up and I thought ‘no, get that out of your mind and focus on the job at hand’. It’s amazing to think that I wasn’t even riding this time last year, I’d just had him [Joshua]. Over the winter, if you’d have told me I was going to be selected for this Games, I’d have said you were lying because it just didn’t feel possible.
“My team has just brought everything together and I’m so grateful to The National Lottery, who fund all of the work that goes on behind the scenes to be able to deliver this – getting the best team possible around me to get me back in the saddle. Plus, my amazing team, especially my mum [Lorraine Baker] and my trainer Lisa [Hopkins] and to Marc for looking after Joshua on this incredible, turbulent journey. I feel so fortunate and so grateful to have this amazing opportunity and to show the world how amazing Lottie is – the results don’t matter, I’m just so happy with her. I’m juggling being a mum and the best athlete I can be, which wouldn’t be possible without my team.
“It’s so nice to have Mari at her first Games and see it through her eyes again, it’s so much like London [2012, Natasha’s Games debut]. It brings memories flooding back from 12 years ago – today is the 12 year anniversary of my freestyle gold medal, so it’s special,” she beamed.
Next up and hot on Natasha’s heels was one of her long-term rivals, Rixt van der Horst from The Netherlands, with her ride Royal Fonq, and this duo was a real threat to take the gold. They showed some impressive work, and the marks matched, trending slightly above Natasha throughout. A final flurry toward the end gave them a score of 76.433% to edge ahead of the British pair.
Challengers came and went, but it was the penultimate combination that was the biggest threat – five-time Paralympian Rebecca Hart and Floratina for the USA, who’ve impressed this season. Their performance took the Grade 3 test to the next level and was a joy to watch, earning them a score of 77.90% – a new personal best for the combination – and, with it, the gold medal. So, it was silver for Rixt and a well-earned bronze medal for Natasha and Lottie. The result also gives the duo a place in Saturday’s Freestyle and Natasha says she’s extremely excited about her music and floorplan.
Grade 2: Georgia Wilson and Sakura
Next into the spectacular Versailles arena were the Grade 2 combinations – one of the smaller fields, with just nine athletes. However, the medals could come from any one of those, such is the competitiveness of the group.
Proud Welsh rider Georgia Wilson arrived in Paris somewhat better prepared than the last Games, where she got an eleventh-hour call-up to fly to Tokyo with her then relatively new ride, Sakura. They answered that call with great aplomb in the form of two bronze medals. Three years later and plenty of partnership-building later, they’ve had a consistent Games selection campaign with a number of podium finishes, which lead to their ticket to Paris. The question today was whether Georgia could secure some further bling to match the engagement ring she picked up when her partner, Alex Thomas, popped the question just days after she was selected.
First to go in front of the ground jury was one of the grade’s great characters, Heidemarie Dresing from Germany, riding Dooloop and, as the reigning triple European gold medallists, there wasn’t a better to get the class underway. As expected, they threw a gauntlet down in great style to set the mark to beat at 73.103%. However, her lead was relatively short-lived when the USA Paralympic debutante duo of Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes blew everyone away with a fantastic performance. Their score of 76.931% took a commanding lead and would be a tough mark to better.
Others tried, including veteran rider Pepo Puch, contesting his fourth Games, and Canadian ‘Bert’ Sheffield, but none could overtake the German combination.
The penultimate pairing were Georgia and Sakura. They knew what they had to do to attempt to get on that super-competitive podium – and that was simply to go out and ride with supreme confidence and belief.
As they turned to go down the centreline, despite the imposing arena and bumper crowd, you could hear a pin drop. They halted well, showing good immobility into a well-balanced, smooth pace. The Grand 2 Grand Prix A test is packed with transitions, direction changes, twists and turns but Georgia maintained the rhythm throughout, with ‘Suki’ in a great frame. Every turn was prepared, and executed well, resulting in supreme accuracy. Their first lengthened trot strides had an unfortunate loss of balance, but they were quickly into a pleasing rhythm and back into the swing and flow. The scores were trending well as they came to a final halt, which was just a fraction off square.
A growing number of British flags were waved in acknowledgement as the score of 73.414% was announced – a fraction off the duo’s personal best, but still plenty to go into second behind the USA. Plus, with just one more combination to come, it meant Georgia was guaranteed a medal. The colour would be down to the performance of Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater. Throughout the test, the scores of Katrine and Georgia were neck-and-neck – with both leapfrogging each other for the silver medal. The crowd held their breath as we waited for the final mark – 73.966% flashed up, giving the silver medal to Denmark by just over half a percent. It was to be third Paralympic bronze medal for Georgia and Suki.
“I’m over the moon. I knew who I was competing against and there’s three or four really good ones. I wasn’t sure where I’d come, but to get a medal is amazing,” said Georgia. “The competition in Grade 2 is really high, but it’s exciting [for the sport]. That arena is so special, and Suki loves an atmosphere, so I had the confidence to go in there.
“Suki and I know each other inside and out – when I went into her stable this morning, she gave me a kiss down my cheek! I think she knows when it’s competition day!
“I have an amazing trainer in Nicky Lickley and we go to her every week – she keeps telling me I can do better. All the training pays off, it’s amazing. It’s a real family effort – my dad has stayed at home to look after the other horses,” she proudly explained.
Third place secures Georgia and Suki a place in Saturday’s Freestyle finale, which she admitted she’s looking forward to.
Grade 1 – Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg
The Grade 2 competition may have been small in number, but the following Grade 1 class boasted a huge field of 22 – possibly a Paralympic record number of starters – and took competitive to a whole new level, with the entry list reading like a who’s who of para dressage, including the world number one, Mari Durward-Akhurst for Great Britain, who is realising a childhood dream by being able to call herself a Paralympian.
Under the Ground Jury of President Katherine Lucheschi (ITA), John Robinson (GBR) Ineke Jansen (NED), Anne Prain (FRA) and Kristi Wysocki (USA), Hong Kong rider Natasha Pui Ting Tse had the honour of getting the class underway with Juno’s Whispering Angel and the lead changed several times before USA rider Roxanne Trunnell took the arena aboard Fan Tastico H as the final pairing to go before the break. On her third Paralympic appearance, Roxanne owned the arena with her equine partner and the high marks flowed to give a final score of 78% to give her a commanding lead.
The second half of the draw was very much the sharp end – with some legends of the grade to come, it was going to get interesting. Dutch rider Ammemarieke Nobel and Doo Schufro gave it a really good try to post 72.792% to go second behind the American. Ireland’s Michael Murphy and Cleverboy can never be discounted from the medal hunt but, today, they were just off the strong pace and 70.835% was great but just not enough secure a medal this time. Next up was our British debutante.
Her status as world number one brings some pressure, but when you add that Buckinghamshire’s Mari has taken on the ride on Athene Lindebjerg from para dressage greats Sophie Christiansen and Julie Payne, it meant there was a huge sense of expectation to excel. However, the grin across Mari’s face as she began her test proved that any pressure she was feeling was balanced by an overwhelming sense of pride and achievement to simply be living the moment of her first Games.
That being said, Mari is a born competitor – she’s had a spell in para rowing, too, so sport is a real motivator and, after that initial elation, it was down to the business of doing her best to secure a spot in Saturday’s freestyle and, perhaps, a podium finish.
Early on, the sheer quality of pace that Athene has was clear – she has a natural, swinging walk, but riding is about how the athlete works with their equine partner, and both need to have the ability to deliver. Mari worked in harmony with the black Gribaldi mare, owned by long-time para dressage supporter Di Redfern, Mari’s father Nick and her coach Rob Waine, to really work the arena, doing her best not to give away any marks. They strode around the intricate pattern of the test with great purpose. There a slight waiver into the halt, but the immobility was there and they moved off well, then continued the super picture and flow until their final halt and salute. The smile had never left Mari’s face from start to finish.
They had trended level with leaders Roxanne and Fan Tastico H, but just a few minor miscommunications led to a small drop in the marks and, at this level of intensity, a few lost points lower the percentage and she began to just trend below. A brief rally at the end boosted the score and the final percentage, after an agonizing wait, was announced as 71.792% – good enough for second at that stage, but with some top names to come.
“It was amazing, everything went to plan so I was really pleased with it. There was a lot of pressure but once I was in the saddle it was okay. This morning was a bit of a nightmare – I was getting myself in a state and trying to find things to do, but once I got on her and she went into that arena, I just knew she was going to look after me. She went in and loved it as much as I did, that’s what it’s all about,” declared Mari after her test.
She continued; “I couldn’t have done any more in there. We know each other really well, she looks after me and really trusts me. It was amazing [in that arena], I was trying to hold back the tears as I went in, it was just incredible – the atmosphere and palace.”
The media was keen to learn more about what place horses and riding have done for her and she emphatically replied; “They’ve always been a part of my life; I started riding aged three. My condition deteriorated quite drastically in 2019, and I lost the ability to walk so being on a horse, they’re my legs, I always say ‘together we excel’. I got bullied a lot as a young child because I was different and I wasn’t in a wheelchair so they couldn’t see why and the horses kept me going.”
The focus returned to the competition and it was the turn of Sara Morganti of Italy – no stranger to the podium – and Mariebelle. Sara rode a typically assured test and, while her horse didn’t have the same impressive pace, as some, it was a truly harmonious performance and presented with supreme accuracy. The judges rewarded it with 74.625%, which catapulted them into second.
Straight after, it was crowd favourite Rihards Snikus for Latvia and his appropriately named Lord of the Dance. They were the silver medalists in Tokyo in this test and they’ve been world champion and European champions, so Rihards had one thing on his mind – Paralympic gold. Some may say that because the Grade 1 test solely features walk, it can never be exciting. Those naysayers have never watched Rihards – a DJ in his spare time – in action between the white boards. He entered that arena and the outcome was never in doubt – his performance was at another level, the likes the sport hasn’t seen for some time. It was majestic and the pure joy the duo exuded was palpable. With scores ranging from 77% to a whopping 82%, delivering a final score of 79.167%, it looked certain the gold was headed to Latvia.
Laurentia Tan for Singapore and Sergio Ribeiro de Olivia of Brazil were the final challengers and, despite both having tasted Paralympic medal success, at previous Games, they couldn’t touch the podium. Mari and Athene finished a very credible sixth on their debut and, from a huge field crammed full of quality and talent, it was a fantastic first taste of Paralympic competition. They earn a place in Saturday’s Freestyle and Mari will be showcasing some new music.
What’s to come
So, day one came to a close with the USA dominating proceedings thanks to two golds and a silver medal, which bodes well for them in Friday’s team competition. Two bronzes and three strong scores from the British riders in action today also gave us a good start to build on. Tomorrow is the turn of the Grade 5 and 5 competitors and we have Sophie Wells in action for ParalympicsGB with her young talent, Egebjerggards Samoa, who makes her Games debut – it’s a good job her human partner is on Games number five. They’re in 14:02 BST.
All the action can be watched on the Chanel 4 Sport YouTube channel, with highlights in the evening as part of the mainstream Channel 4 evening show. Full times and results are available via the Paris 2024 website.
