British eventing squad riders to compete at Aachen ahead of Europeans

Britain’s pairs for the eventing Nations Cup at Aachen next week (13-14 August) have been selected.

This is the highest-profile event in the Nations Cup calendar and always a strong competition, with plenty of countries using it as a final trial or practice for the annual championship.

There will be an added cachet to the fixture this year as the FEI European Championships in dressage, showjumping, driving, reining and vaulting are also running at Aachen during this two-week period.

All five British riders are on the squad for the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships (10-13 September) and four of them are riding the horses they will also compete at Blair.

The selected pairs are:

• Flora Harris on her mother Caroline and Rebecca Salt’s Bayano
• Gemma Tattersall on The Pebbles Syndicate’s Quicklook V
• Izzy Taylor on Frances Carter and Susan Holroyd’s Allercombe Ellie
• Francis Whittington on Catherine Witt’s Easy Target
• Holly Woodhead on her father Ian and stepmother Heidi’s DHI Lupison

Four of these combinations will compete as a team and one as an individual.

The Germans are fielding their top horses and riders at Aachen and are expected to make a team announcement for the Europeans after the competition.

Those competing include Ingrid Klimke on her Badminton runner-up Horseware Hale Bob and Luhmühlen winner FRH Escada JS, Michael Jung on the eight-year-old rising star FischerTakinou and the 2013 European champion Halunke FBW and Sandra Auffarth with reigning world champion Opgun Louvo.

The USA is also making a rare appearance in a European eventing Nations Cup with a three-man team.

Their riders are Phillip Dutton (Fernhill Cubalawn), Lynn Symansky — who then heads to Burghley with Donner — and Lauren Kieffer. Lauren is basing herself in Britain for the autumn season and was seventh at Bramham CCI3* in June with her Aachen ride Veronica.

Eleven nations have riders entered for Aachen, with Australia, Canada, Britain, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the USA running a team. Italy and Belgium have one individual rider each listed.

Full Aachen eventing entries

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.