Lee Pearson gained his third gold of the Games, and ninth in total, in the equestrian event in Hong Kong yesterday as Great Britain continued to track China at the top of the medals table. With 27 golds and 57 medals in all, behind China's 33 and 96,

UK Sport's target of 40 golds and 110 medals could be conservative, even more so the British Paralympic Association's estimate of 35 titles.

Pearson, 34, completed his third perfect hat-trick at three successive Games and Ricky Balshaw, 21, was second as Britain dominated the freestyle. Born with arthrogryposis, a muscle and joint condition that has left him with tiny and twisted arms and legs, Pearson controls his horse, Gentleman, with his hips. He has to ride wearing plastic splints running from his backside to his heels, runs his own stable, competes against able-bodied riders and laid down his latest challenge last night.

“I've got to do London 2012, to do the Paralympics in your own country is going to be amazing,” he said. “With the right funding, I could even do the Olympics. You find me a few million to fund me an Olympics horse and I'll ride it in London.”

Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham, of Britain, won gold and silver respectively in their class earlier in the evening.

If those medals had been expected, though, events on the water at Shunyi Park were harder to predict as rowing made its Paralympics debut. Helene Raynsford, of the Guildford Rowing Club, carved a piece of history by becoming the first champion at a Games. Raynsford won the 1,000 metres singles sculls event by 13sec. “It is absolutely amazing,” Raynsford said. “All I can say about the race is that it hurt.”

Tom Aggar won from the front to give Britain a second gold, also in the 1,000 metres singles sculls. “We have been rubbing shoulders with the Olympic rowers and they are a huge inspiration to us, especially after their success,” he said. “Hopefully, we have done them proud.”

It was a solid evening in the pool, headlined again by David Roberts, the Swansea swimmer, who won his third gold of the Games and tenth in total.