British Showjumping Team announced for Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010
Tuesday 10 August 2010
British Showjumping have announced their selection for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010.
The selected squad comprises (in alphabetical order):
· Scott Brash riding Mr Stanley Brash’s Intertoy Z
· Tina Fletcher riding Lady Pauline Harris’s Hallo Sailor
· David McPherson riding his own Chamberlain Z
· Michael Whitaker riding Mrs Beatrice Mertens GIG Amai II
The non-travelling reserve is Robert Smith (Talan).
World Class showjumping Performance Manager, Rob Hoekstra commented on the selection: “My target this year was to remain in the Top Level Nations Cup series for 2011, which we have now achieved; this fits with the overall build up to London 2012 which is primary to all we do. Results have been exciting and we have seen a number of new horses and riders producing excellent performances in the Nations Cup.
“The Team for WEG is very much part of the development of the squad for 2012 and we have selected horses that have performed well in the Meydan FEI Nations Cup. Michael will be the experienced hand in the team; Scott and Tina will benefit enormously from experiencing their first Championship, while David has Championship experience but takes an inexperienced horse. It is an exciting Team for the future and part of the road to 2012.”
World Class Performance Director Will Connell comments: “This year has seen a change of management and leadership in the showjumping team and the plan that we put together is based on a complete focus on preparing for London 2012. It has been a very exciting year with some excellent results. WEG is important as part of the preparation for London and the team Rob has selected will benefit from the experience. The team has real talent and if all goes well who knows what they might bring home but most important is that they bring home valuable knowledge gain ahead of London.”
A World Equestrian Games includes the eight disciplines of dressage, eventing, showjumping, para-equestrian dressage, driving, endurance, reining and vaulting. The Olympic and Paralympic sports are generously supported by lottery funding via UK Sport but the non-Olympic sports of driving, endurance, reining and vaulting, although supported where possible by the World Class Programme staff during the World Equestrian Games, do not receive direct funding for the event from the Programme.
A variety of fundraising initiatives have been launched to help support the trip to Kentucky for all the British teams. These include an online auction with new exclusive lots added each month and the opportunity to buy Team GBR merchandise which ranges from clothing to a recently launched jewellery range; generous donations are made to the teams for all items sold. Further information about all the fundraising activities can be found on the official Team GBR website.
All the news and behind the scenes views in the run up to and during the Games can be found on the Team GBR website, including the opportunity to sign up for FREE as a Team GBR Supporter to receive regular updates. Visit www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk for more details.