As an energetic girl Deborah Criddle was pony mad, loving nothing more than riding in the countryside.

But in 1985, a serious motorbike accident changed her life for ever.

The right side of her body was badly injured, ultimately causing the loss of her right arm, and her right leg has been half the strength since that day.

Yet in the next fortnight the para-equestrian rider is aiming to win her fourth Paralympic gold medal on the courses in Hong Kong.

The 42-year-old is among a Great Britain team of 212 athletes, competing in 18 of the 20 sports at Beijing 2008.

In Athens four years ago, the team finished second to China in the medals table with 94, including 35 golds.

And from Saturday it will be hoping to carry on a golden summer for Britain, following the best Olympics' medal haul in a century.

Looking back to the day that changed her life, Ms Criddle, from Taunton, said: "The accident changed everything, in some ways for the better, but back then I did not see it that way."

She goes confidently into her third games, defending triple gold medals from Athens, on her latest horse Pavaroti.

"My horse is going better than I anticipated he would be at this stage," she said confidently. "The acclimatisation work we did at home has prepared us well and I am happy riding in the conditions."

The para-equestrian dressage team begins its battle on Sunday, hoping to defend its individual medal titles and scoop a fourth consecutive gold in the team competition.

Other West riders competing are Anne Dunham, from Broad Hinton, Wiltshire, and Simon Laurens, from Birdlip, Gloucestershire.

Ms Dunham was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis aged 27 and has been a wheelchair user since she was 30. She did competed for the first time when was 40, yet is an experienced Paralympian and multiple gold medal winner.

Speaking from Beijing, the 59-year-old mother said: "I'm quietly confident. I'm really enjoying it out here and looking forward to shooting for gold. The venue is fantastic and the stables excellent. Teddy travelled and recovered really well and all is going to plan."

Squad newcomer Mr Laurens, 40, who also has MS, added: "I have been pleasantly surprised by how easily I've found it to ride in the heat and have ridden in my competition jacket and coped well.

"Ocean Diamond travelled well and has recovered well and I'm very pleased with how he's going. I believe he will be spot on at just the right time."

There are no fewer than 15 West Paralympians hoping to do their country proud. They include the blind football team based at the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) in Hereford.

The squad, ranked fifth in the world, is hoping to topple the likes of world champions Brazil and continental champions Spain.

Looking forward to playing on the biggest stage of all, head coach Tony Larkin said: "The current squad have worked incredibly hard to get where they are today. We are very confident and all looking forward to it."

Darren Harris, from Bristol, managed to qualify to compete with the football team and in the judo competition.

But the 35-year-old chose to hang up his boots and fight on the mats in Beijing.

"I would have loved to have done both but I was told that wasn't going to be possible," he said. "I had done the footie for such a long time and had given it my all, I wanted a new challenge. This is my opportunity to make it happen in an individual sport."

Ranked second in Europe and ninth in the world in the 66kg category, he added: "My aim is to do my best, I haven't set myself any target above that."

Josie Pearson has turned a few heads as the only female member of the team that will be representing Britain in wheelchair rugby.

The 22-year-old from Hereford was paralysed from the chest down in a road crash that killed her boyfriend five years ago.

Will Bayley has been sharpening his skills at Filton College ahead of the table tennis event in the country that has traditionally dominated the sport.

"In Beijing I want to win a medal in the singles," said the 20-year-old who suffers from arthrogryposis which affects his joints. It's quite an open class, there's about six or seven athletes who could win."

Like all the West Paralympians, he vows to leave not a single ounce of effort in the tank in his pursuit of gold.