Riders chosen for European squad

Pearson won three golds at the last European Championships

Great Britain's Paralympic dressage gold medallists will be back in action next month as they bid to retain their European title.

Lee Pearson, Nicola Tustain, Debbie Criddle and Anne Dunham, who won team gold in Athens, form part of a seven-strong squad.

The competition takes place in Hungary from 29-31 July.

Athens bronze medallist Sophie Christiansen, Jo Pitt and Michelle Crunkhorn make up the rest of the team.

Great Britain won team gold in the last European Championships in Portugal three years ago while Criddle, Dunham and Pearson also won individual golds.

The team came home from Athens with eight medals, including five golds, but four of the team will be partnered by new horses in Hungary.

Jo Pitt will ride Lambrusco, who was due to be ridden by Anne Dunham in Athens before the horse was ruled out through illness just before the Games began.

Dunham will now ride a new horse in Amo while 17-year-old Sophie Christiansen will partner Martini Maybe and triple Athens gold medallist Debbie Criddle has a new horse of her own, the nine-year-old Pompidou.

Lee Pearson, who will again ride Blue Circle Boy, will compete in the Grade 3 competition in Hungary - two grades above the level of his disability.

Nicola Tustain will be partnered by Prinz Heinrich, who she rode in Athens, while Michelle Crunkhorn will also be riding the horse she competed on at the Paralympics, Painted Affair.

The full squad will train together in mid-July and the riders for the team event will be named before horses and riders depart for Hungary.