The British eventing squad for the pony European Championships at Bishop Burton (29 July-1 August) has been announced.
Following a training weekend in Cheshire with team coach Jonquil Hemming, six combinations have been chosen — four will be on the team and two will ride as individuals — and three reserves.
The squad will have a final pre-championship run at Shipton Moyne, Glos, on Tuesday, 6 July in the open novice.
Chairman of pony selectors Ginnie Keen explains: “Selection has been tough this year and has taken longer than anticipated. We are now confident that we have a strong and competitive squad to take to Bishop Burton.”
Squad in alphabetical order:
- Sophie Beaty, 14, on Done And Dusted VI
- Alfie Bradstock, 16, on Louise Hamilton’s Montezuma II
- Sam Ecroyd, 13, on Penelope Ecroyd’s Catherston Nutsafe
- Sophie How, 15, on Rachel How’s Hotshots
- Harry Humfrey, 15, on Tantany Torch
- Grace Walker, 13, on Noble Springbok
Reserves in order of acceptance:
- Emily Janey Ryder, 15, on Mr Moon
- Phillipa Hill, 14 on A Touch Of Spice
- Pumbaa Goess-Saurau, 13, on Susie Goess-Saurau’s Killacoran Blue
Alfie Bradstock is the only chosen rider with championship experience — he rode at last year’s Europeans as an individual with Montezuma II — but two of the ponies have medals to their names.
Sam Ecroyd’s ride Catherston Nutsafe was a double team silver medallist with Ella McEwen (2008 and 2009) and Grace Walker’s Noble Springbok has individual bronze (2005, Laura Collett), silver (2006, Libbey Soley) and gold medals (2007, Libby Soley), as well as three team medals, on his record.
Britain has an excellent record in the pony Europeans, winning a team medal every year since 2005, and will be looking to keep this up on home soil in 2010.
