A relatively young five-rider showjumping squad has been selected to represent Great Britain at next month’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy.
The quintet, from which four riders will be chosen to jump on the team, is as follows:
- Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos
- Ben Maher and Cella
- Joe Clee and Utamaro D’Ecaussines
- Spencer Roe and Wonder Why
- Michael Whitaker entered on Amai and Viking V
Scott Brash is also entered with Ursula, and Ben Maher with Wings Sublieme.
“This is a really exciting team with plenty of youth and experience,” said performance manager Rob Hoekstra.
“We have guys with medal experience at the highest levels and a couple here for the first time. What they all have is lots of clear rounds in them, which is what you need to win at championship level.
“I’m looking forward to the World Games. We’re aiming for a top five team placing to secure our qualification for Rio, but it would be nice to add a world title to the ones we’ve already got.”
Scott said he was “delighted”.
“It’s a massive honour for us all,” he added.
Joe said: “It’s an amazing feeling. If you’d told me at the start of the year that my season was going to go like this, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
Four of the five — except Michael Whitaker — were on the Nations Cup team that escaped relegation by finishing second in Dublin on Friday (8 August).
For analysis of what this means for Great Britain and reaction to team selection — plus an exclusive interview with Spencer Roe (pictured top) — don’t miss this week’s Horse & Hound, out on Thursday (14 August).
