Silver medal for Natasha Baker at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

World number three, Natasha Baker, takes the silver medal in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Grade III individual dressage

Final rider to go for Great Britain, Natasha Baker made the second day of equestrian action one to remember by winning a silver medal with a score of 76.265%, on Keystone Dawn Chorus – making it four riders and four medals for the team.

While the day kicked off with the Grade I individual dressage event, in which there were no Team GB riders, it certainly didn’t disappoint. Two combinations from the first six riders set the stakes high and achieved scores of over 80% – these were Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton for the USA who earned 81.464%, and Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance who finished on 80.179% earning themselves gold and silver respectively. The highest sub-80 score and bronze medal went to Sara Morganti and Royal Delight for Italy, who got a great score of 76.964%.

Then, it was time for the Grade III individual dressage where defending gold medallist and three-time Team GB Paralympian, Natasha Baker, was ready to take to the stage. Natasha didn’t have the preparation she wished for coming into the Games, due to her trainer Lisa Hopkins being unable to travel abroad. But that didn’t stop our star girl from getting her head in the game.

After a tense and spooky entrance into the arena, Natasha kept her cool and quickly settled ‘Lottie’, as she’s known at home, into a flashy rhythm. They produced a forward and fluent test to show off their harmonious relationship. Natasha was delighted with her result of 76.265% and landed in provisional gold medal position.

With a number of riders still to come, it was far from over – however, it was only Danish rider Tobias Thorning Jorgensen who was able to beat Natasha’s total when he rode Jolene Hill to 78.971% and the gold medal.

What’s next?

The top eight in each grade go through to the Freestyle individual final, which takes place on Monday 30 August. Tomorrow (Saturday 28 August) is the start of the team competition so keep an eye on the Horse&Rider website for more Paralympic updates.

Grade I results…

1. USA’s Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton – 81.464%
2. Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance – 80.179%
3. Italy’s Sara Morganti and Royal Delight – 76.964%
4. Norway’s Jens Lasse Dokkan and Aladdin – 75.929%
5. Singapore’s Laurentia Tan and Banestro – 73.964%
6. Finland’s Katja Karjalainen and Dr Doolittle – 71.893%
7. Austria’s Julia Sciancalepore and Heinrich IV – 70.571%
8. Russian Paralympic Committee’s Vladislav Pronskiy and Silva Le Andro – 70.429%
9. Canada’s Winona Hartvikson and Onyx – 69.893%
10. Brazil’s Sergio Froes Ribeiro de Oliva and Melenium – 69.643%
11. Canada’s Jody Schloss and Lieutenant Lobin – 69.286%
12. Italy’s Carola Semperboni and Paul – 67.678%
13. Czech Republic’s Anastasja Vistalova and Sterngreifer – 66.964%
14. Portugal’s Ana Isabel Mota Veiga and Convicto – 65.500%
15. France’s Anna Frederique Royon and Quaterboy LH – 65.357%
16. Hong Kong’s Tse Pui Ting Natasha and Baxo – 63.786%
17. Singapore’s Gemma Rose Jen Foo and Gambler – 62.750%
18. Ireland’s Michael Murphy and Cleverboy – 61.429%

Grade III results…

1. Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Jorgensen and Jolene Hill – 78.971%
2. Great Britain’s Natasha Baker and Keystone Dawn Chorus – 76.265%
3. Netherlands’ Rixt van der Horst and Findsley – 75.765%
4. Norway’s Ann Cathrin Lubbe and La Costa Majlund – 72.971%
5. France’s Chiara Zenati and Swing Royal – 71.059%
6. Belgium’s Barbara Minneci and Stuart – 70.853%
7. Denmark’s Caroline Cecilie Nielsen and Davidoff 188 – 70.265%
8. Australia’s Emma Booth with Zidane – 70.059%
9. Canada’s Lauren Barwick and Sandrino – 70.000%
10. Netherland’s Maud de Reu and Webron – 69.941%
11. USA’s Rebecca Hart and El Corona Texel – 69.853%
12. Canada’s Roberta Sheffield and Fairuza – 69.765%
13. Germany’s Steffen Zeibig and Feel Good 4 – 69.323%
14. Hong Kong’s Fleur Schrader and Caraat – 67.706%
15. Japan’s Sho Inaba and Exclusive – 67.529%
16. Italy’s Francesca Salvade and Oliver-Vitz – 66.941%
17. Mexico’s Ignacio Trevino Fuerte and Solemne – 62.824%
18. Ireland’s Kate Kerr-Horan and Serafina T – 56.470%