PARA-DRESSAGE: Dunham tips GB for glory (From Swindon Advertiser)

PARA-DRESSAGE: Dunham tips GB for glory

5:50am Saturday 14th July 2012 in Our Olympians 2012 By Ned Payne

PARA-DRESSAGE star Anne Dunham has tipped the Great Britain squad she was left out of to be ‘very successful’ at this summer’s Paralympics.

It was announced on Monday that Broad Hinton’s Dunham was only first reserve, meaning she will be unable to compete in her fifth successive Games, having previously helped Britain to team gold in Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and Beijing.

The 63-year-old competes in the 1a category for the most severely-disabled riders and had hoped to partner long-time ride Teddy Edwards, but Sophie Christiansen has been given the nod in that section instead on Janeiro 6.

The 2012 squad also features nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson (Grade Ib), who is set to make his fourth Paralympics appearance alongside Deborah Criddle (Grade III).

They are joined by Sophie Wells (Grade IV) and Natasha Baker (Grade II), both of whom achieve Paralympic selection for the first time.

And although still disappointed at her omission, Dunham believes her home nation will emerge with a raft of medals from London this summer.

“You set yourself up for these things but there’s always a chance you might not make it,” said Dunham.

“There’s a lot of good rider and horse combinations and the selectors have gone with what they think. They have taken one from each grade to give them a chance of gold in each.

“I’m very supportive of who they are taking and I wish them all the best., I think we have a very good chance of winning team gold.

“I’m sure they will be a very successful squad, in fact I know they will be a very successful squad.

“I’ve said all along that they could take any combination of riders and do very well.”

Dunham remains hopeful that she can still compete at the very top level, and has targeted the European Championships as her next major competition.