Senior British Eventing Squad Selected for the Europeans

Following months of exciting Eventing competition around the globe, a six-strong squad for the Senior European Championships in Fontainebleau, France (24-27 September 2009) has been selected.

Four experienced riders have been chosen to represent Britain in the Team competition, with two Eventers making their debuts as Individuals. Many of the selected horses are also competing on a Championship stage for the first time. The team is really looking forward to the Championships, with their unbeaten record of winning seven consecutive European Championships.

This trip to Fontainebleau has been possible thanks to the unerring support of the UK Sport funded Equestrian World Class Programme, which supports a pathway to success for Eventing, Show Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage athletes. The aim is to have in place a sustainable system that can deliver more medals on the international stage now and in the future. The Programme has been funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, primarily from the National Lottery, via UK Sport since 1998.

The team was chosen by Chairman of Selectors Mandy Stibbe and fellow Selectors Bridget Parker, Ian Stark, and Angela Tucker.

British Eventing Performance Manager Yogi Breisner says: “I am very excited about taking these six riders to Fontainebleau and I am pleased that Lucy Wiegersma and Nicola Wilson have the chance to make their European Championship debuts, helped by experienced team members William, Oliver, Tina and Mary.”

British Eventing Team:

·         Tina Cook riding Mr & Mrs Nicholas Embiricos and Sarah Pelham’s Miners Frolic  

·         Mary King riding Mr Edwin & Mrs Sue Davies and Miss Janette Chinn’s Imperial Cavalier

·         William Fox-Pitt riding Mr George & Mrs Jayne Apter’s Idalgo with Mrs Jane Kier’s Macchiato, co-owned by William Fox-Pitt, as a direct reserve for Idalgo

·         Oliver Townend riding Mr Edward & Mr Robert Nicholson’s Flint Curtis or Mr Andrew Cawthray’s Carousel Quest

British Eventing Individual riders:

• Lucy Wiegersma riding Mrs Ginnie Lyne’s Woodfalls Inigo Jones  
• Nicola Wilson riding Miss Rosemary Search’s Opposition Buzz
  

Commenting on their Team Selection:

William Fox-Pitt says: “I’m very excited to be selected with two of my top horses. It’s a privilege to be part of such a strong team and I hope we’ll keep the British record intact.

“I’m particularly pleased for George and Jayne Apter who are long term owners of Idalgo; it’s great to see them rewarded.”

Tina Cook says: “I was thrilled to get the news about the selection. It’s great to have the opportunity to represent my country once again on such a super horse and it’s a real honour to be part of such a good team.”

Mary King says: “I’m absolutely chuffed to bits. This is the first time Imperial Cavalier has been selected for a team; he’s a real worthy horse.

“We’ll obviously all be aiming to defend our European title and for me personally, I’ll be hoping to go one better than my Individual Silver from Pratoni in 2007.”

Oliver Townend says: “I am thrilled to have been chosen for the Team on both Carousel Quest and Flint Curtis as I feel that this leaves me in a comfortable and strong position leading up to the Championships.

“They are both class horses in their own rights and I would be thrilled to ride either one.”

Commenting on their Individual selection:

Lucy Wiegersma says: “I’m very, very excited to have been given another shot at a Championship. ‘Snoopy’ is a really lovely young horse and if we can emulate our performance from Kentucky back in April, I hope we’ll be in with a real chance of doing well.”

Nicola Wilson says: “Hearing the news was such a lovely surprise, I’m very much looking forward to the Championships.

“This is a real dream come true for me.”