01 August 2016
The Endurance GB International Committee is delighted to announce the athletes and horses chosen to represent Team GB in the upcoming Senior and Young Rider Championships.
The Senior Team will compete in the 160km, FEI Longines World Endurance Cham- pionships to be held in Samorin, Slovakia from the 15-18th September. The following combinations have been successfully selected:
Carri Ann Dark with HS Drift
Fiona Griffiths with Oliver Twist IV
Nicola Thorne with LR Bold Greyson or LM Bolena (travelling reserve horse)
Christopher Wray with Takwenya
Senior Team Chef D'Equipe, Liz Finney commented that “after a late change of venue, we now have a team of four horse and riders, plus a reserve horse, who are extremely keen to compete at the World Championships in Samorin, Slovakia in the middle of September.
They are all very experienced international riders, three of whom have already competed at a championship ride, so will cope well with the environment and hype of a world championship.”
The Young Rider team will compete in the 120km, FEI European Endurance Cham- pionship for Young Riders & Juniors to be held in Rio Frio, Portugal from the 02-04th September. The following combinations have been successfully selected:
Kate Atkinson with DNS Ronaldo
Charlotte Chadwick with Hazelcroft Gosens Tsar
Bella Fricker with Eskar
Caitlin Theodorou with My Marco
Young Rider Chef D'Equipe, Jo Chisholm, commented that "we now have an excel- lent squad of Young Riders who have worked extremely hard to qualify themselves and their horses. Having worked with them during the year I can say that it is an absolute honour and pleasure to be working with a group of such dedicated and professional youngsters."
John Robertson, Director of International for Endurance GB, added that "the path to both Championships has not been straightforward, but we are reassured by the high calibre combinations who will be representing Team GB at both Champi- onships this summer. I would like to wish all GB competitors a safe journey and the best of luck for the competitions that lie ahead."
Endurance GB - National Governing Body for competitive Endurance horse riding in Great Britain a member body of the BEF. Offering rides for non-members and members from pleasure rides to competitive rides www.endurancegb.co.uk
Photo: Team GB Young Riders at their selection ride at Pilgrims Trail. From left to right: Charlotte Chadwick, Caitlin Theodorou and Bella Fricker. Photo courtesy of Event to Event Photography - http://eventtoevent.co.uk/
Quotes
“Despite not having a large pool of horse/rider combinations qualified for the YR Championships, we now have an excellent squad of young riders who have worked extremely hard to qualify themselves and their horses. Having worked with them during the year I can say that it is an absolute honour and pleasure to be working with a group of such dedicated and professional youngsters.
Travel plans are coming together and we are working closely with the YR Squad Management and the riders, their families and crews to get the best possible op- tions for them and the horses, to ensure they arrive in Portugal in tip top condi- tion. We believe the course will be fairly flat but probably dry and sandy, which is similar to some of the qualifying rides that the combinations have experienced this year. The temperature at the Championships will likely be in the high 20's to low 30's, but fortunately we have been experiencing some hot weather in the UK this summer and coupled with the riders training, especially for hot conditions, we are confident that this will be well within their comfort zone.
Over the next few weeks the riders will taper their training to build up to the Championships and preparations for the trip will be ongoing. Everything from the ferry crossings and flights for the crews down to the spare sets of shoes for the horses will be planned down to the last detail. We are all very much looking for- ward to representing our country in these Young Rider Championships.”
Jo Chisholm, Team GB Chef D’Equipe for the Young Riders
“After a late change of venue, we now have a team of four horses and riders, plus a reserve horse, who are extremely keen to compete at the World Championships in Samorin, Slovakia in the middle of September.
They are all very experienced international riders, three of whom have already competed at a championship ride, so will cope well with the environment and hype of a world championship.
It is a long journey to the venue, involving two overnight stops on the way, the temperature at the venue will probably be in the 30'sC so careful planning is un- derway to ensure the horses have the best possible journeys, followed by a good period of acclimatisation on arrival in Samorin.
The team and squad management team will meet in August shortly before the horses leave for the Championships, for a final check and to concentrate on the small details that can make the difference between success and failure.”
Liz Finney, Team GB Chef D’Equipe for the Senior Team
