The event enjoyed a truly international representation gathering 133 athletes from 35 nations. No less than 21 NFs fielded full teams.
Para Equestrian – equestrian sport for athletes with a physical impairment – became an FEI discipline in 2006. International events for both Para Equestrian Dressage and Para Equestrian Driving were established and the FEI became one of the first International Federations to govern and regulate a sport for both able-bodied athletes and athletes with impairments.
Para Dressage is the only equestrian discipline included in the Paralympic Games, where it has been a regular fixture since 1996.
World Championships in Para Dressage had been organised since 1994 but 2007 was the first time that such an event had been held under the auspices of the FEI. The event featured many new nations and athletes which added to its prestige and excitement.
The first FEI World Para Equestrian Dressage Championship took place on the grounds of Hartpury University and Hartpury College, a prominent education centre, which provides degrees up to PhD level in equine studies and equine science.
The venue had been upgraded with a GBP 4.2 million equine arena development, which included a 70x40 metre competition arena, additional warm up facilities, seating for six hundred spectators and a panoramic restaurant. The entire building had been refurbished to cater for the needs of disabled riders and spectators.
Unfortunately, the participants found themselves in the midst of the worst flooding in living memory at Hartpury and all over South West England. While monsoon climactic conditions rendered the venue all but inaccessible to the outside, the competition itself continued fairly undisturbed, albeit with minor modifications which saw all the outdoor competitions staged indoors.
The organisers did a stellar job moving the event indoors and making sure the athletes did not experience any inconvenience.
The results of the first competition day – Friday, 20 July – were combined with the results of the Individual competition held on the following day in order to determine the team placings.
The importance of the team medals could not be underestimated as they provided the first three teams with the coveted qualification slots for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing/Hong Kong (CHN).
There was little that could stop the overall brilliant performance of the British team, thus re-confirming their status as the definitive World Champions, a title which they had conserved since the inception of the event.
The athletes to contribute to yet another British gold were: Anne Dunham (Grade Ia); Lee Pearson (Grade Ib); Simon Laurens (Grade III); and Michelle Crunkhorn (Grade IV).
In second place, and also the proud recipients of five individual Paralympic qualification slots, was Germany with Britta Napel (Grade II); Angelika Trabert (Grade II); Hannelore Brenner (Grade III); and Bettina Eistel also from Grade III.
Bronze went to Norway, very closely followed by Brazil. The team members to have secured the five coveted Paralympic qualification slots for Norway for were: Jens Lasse Dokkan (Grade Ib); Silje Guillund (Grade III); Ann Cathrin Lubbe (Grade IV); and Sigrid Rui also from Grade IV.
The individual title for Grade Ia went to Brazilian athlete Sergio Oliva riding El Grand Champ. This was an amazing achievement given that this was a borrowed horse owned by Annabelle Dervin, who was also at the Championship, competing for France in Grade IV. Silver was awarded to Slaven Hudina from Croatia riding Tulasi while the reigning Bronze European Champion Sophie Christiansen (GBR) with Gazel.
There was little debate as to the winner for Grade Ib. The highly decorated and experienced Lee Pearson (GBR) aboard Altino proved to be the man of the day with the highest score across all Grades with 77.333%. Silver was awarded to Nicole Kullen from Australia riding Worleston Billy while bronze went to Ricky Balshaw from Great Britain with Deacons Giorgi.
Accomplished rider Nicola Tustain (GBR) aboard Hotstuff took home the world title for Grade II. She competed despite recovering from a cracked coccyx which should have kept her far away from the arena. German athlete Britta Napel with Durbridge 28 took silver while bronze was awarded to another German national, Steffen Zeibig on Waldemar.
Grade III was hotly disputed and saw Annika Lykke Dalskov from Denmark on Alfavard April Z become the new world champion, ahead of Germany’s Hannelore Brenner on Women of the World. Deborah Criddle (GBR) placed third aboard Figaro IX.
Athens 2004 Paralympic Champion Ann Cathrin Lubbe on Zanko won Grade IV for Norway. In second place came Philippa Johnson (GBR) on Benedict while bronze went to Sabine Peters from The Netherlands with Papillon.
The last competition day of the FEI Para-Dressage World Championship 2007 was Sunday 22 July which concluded with the dancing melodies of the Freestyle competition playing out in both the new indoor and the outdoor arenas.
Freestyle gold went to 2005 European champion Sophie Christiansen (GBR) riding Gazel, with whom she had only trained for a week as her previous mount had gone lame. Fellow British rider Anne Dunham with BB Call me Caine won silver. Anne was by far the most experienced championship rider from the British squad, having won 10 gold as well as countless silver and bronze medals and was the reigning Paralympic, World and British Champion. Bronze went to 2005 world champion Sergio Oliva (BRA) with El Grand Champ.
A spectacular performance by Lee Pearson and Altino secured yet another gold medal with 79.885%. This win made Pearson the only treble gold recipient at this Championship as he effectively won all the competitions in which he had competed since the onset of the event. Norwegian Jens Lasse Dokkan with Lacour took home the silver while bronze Nicole Kullen (AUS) put on another remarkable performance on her borrowed horse Worlseton Billy to win Freestyle bronze.
Breaking the British winning streak, Britta Napel from Germany with Durbridge 28 became the new Freestyle world champions. They were closely followed by Individual champion Nicola Tustain and Hotstuff. In third place, came fellow British athlete Felicity Coulthard with Roffelaar.
The British resumed their domination in Grade III, with Simon Laurens and Deborah Criddle clinching gold and silver respectively. Debbie Criddle and Figaro IX were the only combination to have won individual, freestyle and team gold at the 2001 European Championship, the 2005 World Championship and the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games. Bronze went to Hannelore Brenner and Women of the World from Germany, runner up in the Individual competition.
The same three medal winners from the Individual competition returned to the Freestyle with a lot more to show, and successfully so, as Norwegian rider Ann Cathrin Lubbe with Zanko emerged victorious yet again, confirming their stronghold on Grade IV. Swapping places on this occasion, Sabine Peters from The Netherlands took silver while Philippa Johnson and Benedict claimed bronze.
A grand prize giving ceremony ensued with HRH Princess Haya, who had been elected FEI President in 2006, then-International Paralympic Committee President Sir Philippe Craven, FEI Para-Equestrian Director Ian Williams and Para-Equestrian Committee Chair Jonquil Solt all united to congratulate the athletes on their victories.
As the FEI President eloquently stated in her speech, “the success of the first FEI Para Dressage World Championship is testament to the strength of Para-Equestrian. Although the discipline only joined the FEI in 2006, it has already become a vital and vibrant member of the FEI family. The inclusion of Para-Equestrian within the FEI has made horsesport all the richer and the past few days have, in more ways than one, demonstrated the incredible commitment and determination which has made Para-Equestrian sport a truly global affair.”
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