The British team for the Pony European Championships in Spain from 23 to 29 July will be:
- Charlie Bowles (Daphne II)
Lorna Edmonds (Manitu N)
Georgie Hamblin (Joop)
Sally Makin (Nurejew)
Julie Swinburn (Chablis)
The final team was announced following a selection trial at Hickstead.
Click here to view the results of the final trial.
Charlie Bowles (15) began his riding career with the Heythrop Hunt Pony Club, competing in all disciplines. Having decided to concentrate on dressage, he representedBritain for the first time in 1999 when he won the Pony Derby at Blarney Castle and was a member of the gold winning British team. Charlie, who now trains with Jilly and Rhett Bird, represented Britain in Le Touquet earlier this year.
Lorna Edmonds‘ (14) dressage career began aged 11 when she qualified Pendley Mayday for the winter and summer regionals at Elementary level. Lorna now rides Manitu, a previous team silver medal winning pony stallion with whom she won on the first day of her first international competition at Le Touquet. Lorna trains with Ian Woodhead.
Georgie Hamblin (16) is in her last year of Ponies. She first represented Great Britain earlier this year in Lanaken, Belgium. Georgie went on to compete at the European Championships in Hagen 2000 as an individual rider. She is also trained by Ian Woodhead.
Sally Makin (16) was a successful rider in the show ring before concentrating on dressage with her sister Annabel’s pony Nurejew. Sally’s first international was in Hagen, Germany in 1999. She has since competed at the 1999 European Championships, was part of the Silver medal winning team at Hagen in 2000 and was first in both the individual and team competitions at Le Touquet CDIP earlier this year.
Julie Swinburn (16) became interested in dressage in 1999 after enjoying great success at top level in the show ring winning at both HOYS and the RIHS. With help from trainer Ian Woodhead, Julie and Dwyfor Thor’s first competition was the Young Rider Festival where they won the Pony Derby. Julie started riding Chalbis, previously ridden by Sally Makin, at the beginning of 2001.
Final selection trial results
Pony Prelim test 1, Lorna Edmonds; 2, Sally Makin; 3, Charlie Bowles; =4, Georgie Hamblin and Julie Swinburn.
Pony Individual test 1, Lorna Edmonds; =2, Georgie Hamblin and Charlie Bowles; 4, Sally Makin; 5, Nathalie Bushell.