Eventing
Team Announced for Hong Kong Olympic Games 2008
The British
Olympic Association (BOA) has today selected the Eventing riders to be part of
Team GB for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
The Team will be: William
Fox-Pitt riding either :- Mrs Judy Skinner and Mr Michael Paynes
Ballincoolaor Mr Philip Adkins Parkmore Ed
or The Hon Finn & Mary Guinness Tamarillo. (William
is pictured at the right on Ballincoola at Badminton, in 2006.
Sharon
Hunt riding Mr & Mrs Terry Hunts Tankers Town. Mary
King riding either - Mr & Mrs Eddie Davies and Miss Janette Chinns
Call Again Cavalier or Mr & Mrs Eddie Davies and
Miss Janette Chinns Imperial Cavalier. Zara
Phillips riding BGC Partners and Associated Companies including Cantor
Index, Mr James Blackshaw's and her own Toytown.(Editor's
Note: Since the original announcement Toytown has been withdrawn due to Veterinary
issues - he got loose at home and injured himself.) Daisy
Dick and
Spring Along have been chosen from the First Reserves to replace Phillips
and Toytown. (Daisy and Spring Along are pictured at the left at Badminton
in 2006.)
Lucy
Wiegersma riding Mr & Mrs Mark Leans Shaabrak. Commenting
on their selection the athletes said: William
Fox-Pitt It is very exciting
news, particularly with three horses in contention. Knowing this early in the
year means we can prepare for the Games in the best possible way. The Olympics
is the ultimate challenge and is one which I am really looking forward to. Mary
King I
am over the moon to be picked to ride at what will be my fifth Olympic Games!
Now the hard work starts making sure the horses are in tip-top condition. I have
two potential horses, so I will work closely with my trainers to ensure we get
the best possible results. Sharon
Hunt This really is a dream come true. I have owned and
ridden Tankers Town since he was a four-year-old, so it feels even more special.
I am looking forward to the whole experience and I am thrilled to be picked for
my first Olympics and to represent my country. Lucy
Wiegersma I am overwhelmed to have been picked. It has
been my lifetime ambition to ride in an Olympics. I am particularly thrilled as
I have ridden Shaabrak for ten years he is a real trooper and I shall now
be wrapping him up in cotton-wool. Zara
Phillips (Prior to Toytown's withdrawal:) It
is nice to be selected, but we still have a long way to go. I am lucky in that
Toytown has been to Championship events before, so he knows about big occasions
and has been consistent, but an Olympic Games really is special. I am delighted
for Toytown as he really deserves it. Yogi
Breisner, British Equestrian Team Manager As
the team manager I am fortunate to have five such talented riders on the team,
and I am very grateful to all the owners for making such excellent horses available. The
selectors also named two groups of reserves who are: 1st
Reserves (in alphabetical order) Kristina
Cook (Miner's Frolic) *Daisy Dick (Hope
Street or Spring Along) Ruth Edge (Two Thyme) Oliver Townend (Flint
Curtis) 2nd
Reserves (in alphabetical order)
Georgie
Davies (Fachoudette) Pippa Funnell (Ensign) Rodney Powell
(Zin Zan II) Oliver Townend (Coup de Coeur) Nicola Wilson
(Opposition Buzz) |