The riders on the British Dressage squad shortlist for the Athens Olympic Games 2004 have been announced.
The World Class Performance Manager and the British Dressage Selectors have produced a 12-strong shortlist, which contains a couple of less well-known riders among the familiar names. The new faces are Joanna Fisher from London, who riders Coco Chanel, and Wayne Channon from Sussex, who has had a very successful year on his black stallion Lorenzo CH.
Carl Hester, Emile Faurie and Richard Davison are Olympic old-timers and have each represented Britain in the Olympic games on two previous occasions. Sandy Phillips, who was given British citizenship in 1996, has previously only travelled to the Olympics on her American passport.
Other contenders for places on the British Olympic dressage team include Fiona Bigwood from Kent, who had a good year with her mare Habana 3 in 2003. Emma Hindle was a European team member in 2003, as was Nicola McGivern.
Nicky Barrett has worked miracles following her recovery from a back injury, and could see a fairytale end to her troubles if she is selected. Laura Richardson had a succession of victories on Millennium in 2003, and Peter Storr, who was the non-travelling reserve for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and has continued to prove his worth ever since.
Five riders will be selected to go to Athens: four team riders and a reserve. The team is to be selected after Wiesbaden CDI, 28-30 May, and the Olympic dressage competition itself will be held from 19–25 August 2004.
The British team qualified to take part in the team competition at the European Championships at Hickstead in 2003. Other nations who have qualified include Germany, USA, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Aust
