Haul to play for

Women boost Britain in medal table with help of the super-mums

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

OH mama, what a day it was for the mums at the Paralympics as equestrian Natasha Baker took bronze just hours after Jodie Grinham became the first-ever pregnant competitor and won gold.

Natasha, 34, blew a kiss to her yearold son Joshua after coming third in the individual dressage against a glorious backdrop of Versailles, albeit in the rain.

The six-time Paralympic champion gave birth in April last year and spent 12 months out of the saddle.

Londoner Natasha said: "It's amazing to think this time last year I wasn't even riding. I'd just had Joshua.

"If you had told me I'd get selected for these Games I'd say you were lying. It just didn't feel possible. My pregnancy was harder than I imagined it would be."

Of her horse, Keystone Dawn Chorus, she said: "She's the best girl. She trusts me implicitly, I trust her. She's awesome. I call her Mary Poppins, because she's practically perfect in every way."