Baker set for Paralympic medal quest

Natasha Baker is targeting Paralympic glory as part of the Great Britain equestrian dressage team that begins their London 2012 campaign on Thursday morning.

Baker, who was born in Hammersmith and lives in Uxbridge, will be making her Games debut along with team-mate Sophie Wells.

The team also includes experienced trio Sophie Christiansen, Deborah Criddle and Lee Pearson, who between them boast 13 gold medals from eight Games appearances.

“The selectors chose us because they believed in us. We will just do our best and hope that will deliver some medals,” said Baker.

“It’s been great talking to these three guys – they’ve got a massive wealth of experience between them – but in a way it’s all new for all five of us in that it is a home Games; there will be a different aspect that none of us have had before.

“I don’t think it’s going to be anything like anything we’ve ever done before. For our first Paralympic Games to be a home Games is going to be the most incredible feeling.”

The team as a whole have been set a testing target of a minimum seven medals from 10 individual events, plus the task of defending the Team title they have held since the introduction of Equestrian events to the Paralympics in Sydney 12 years ago.

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