George Bowman claims his place in the British World Equestrian Games team with an impressive victory at Henbury Hall
George Bowman’s decisive victory in the final horse teams selection event at Henbury Hall in Cheshire secured his place on the team for the forthcoming World Equestrian Games in Jerez.
George’s team of black Cumberland Cobs, sponsored by the Wykeland Group, finally fulfilled their early promise and now look to be approaching peak form.
The Henbury trials produced a strong horse teams competition, and a second impressive win for the Cumbrian maestro in successive events boosted British medal hopes for the WEG.
With a commanding lead after a dressage score of 36.3 on the first day, Britain’s most successful driver swept through George Prince’s superbly constructed obstacles to win the marathon and never looked like relinquishing first place, despite a strong challenge from Karen Bassett.
Barry Capstick drove an excellent dressage with Sydney Smith’s immaculate bay Dutch Warmbloods to finish second. The current national champion decided to try a new horse, Roger, in the team for the marathon and had a pretty torrid time. He eventually finished third after having one cone down.
Karen Bassett, driving Bolero in the wheel of her Trakehner team for the first time, blitzed the obstacles to move into second overall.
Dick Lane and his grey Lippizaners had a solid weekend and drove the only double clear in the cone-driving to claim a thoroughly deserved place on the British team for WEG.
WEG driving team
The team representing Britain at WEG will be
- Dick Lane
- George Bowman
- Barry Capstick
Karen Bassett will be competing as an individual and Wilf Bowman-Ripley is the non-travelling reserve.
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Read the full report from Henbury Hall in this week’s Horse & Hound (8 August), or click here to subscribe and enjoy Horse & Hound delivered to your door every week. |
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