The 5th July saw the announcement of the team GB Equestrian riders. We now know the 12 athletes that will compete for Team GB across the three equestrian disciplines of Eventing, Dressage and Showjumping at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The selected athletes are:
Eventing:
William Fox-Pitt, age 47, based Dorset, with Christopher Stone’s Chilli Morning
Kitty King, age 33, based Wiltshire, with Diana Bown, Jacqueline Owen and Samantha Wilson’s Ceylor L A N
Gemma Tattersall, age 31, based West Sussex, with either Christopher Stone’s Chico Bella P or The Pebbles Syndicate’s Quicklook V
Isabelle (Izzy) Taylor, age 33, based Oxfordshire, with Susan Holroyd and Frances Carter’s Allercombe Ellie
Travelling Reserve: Pippa Funnell MBE, age 47, based Surrey, with the late Carol Toliver’s Billy The Biz
With this being Kitty, Gemma and Izzys first Olympic debut, they will be supported with 3 time Olympic medal winner William Fox-Pitt in Rio.
Dressage:
Dressage is an obvious line up, we expect the likes of World, European and Olympic Champion Charlotte and her trainer, Carl competing for GB.
Charlotte Dujardin OBE, age 30, based Gloucestershire, with Rowena Luard, Anne Barrott and Carl Hester’s Valegro
Carl Hester MBE, age 49, based Gloucestershire, with Jane De La Mare and his own Nip Tuck
Fiona Bigwood, age 40, based West Sussex, with Penny Bigwood and Neils and Lis Dahl’s Atterupgaards Orthilia
Spencer Wilton, age 43, based Reading, with Jennifer Goodman and his own Super Nova II
Travelling Reserve: Lara Griffith, age 27, based Gloucestershire, with Dr Wilfried and Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin Al Asad
Jumping:
After questions being raised about whether Scott Brash and his 2 rides Hello Sanctos, and Hello Forever would make it to the Olympic team, it has been confirmed that both horses, who picked up minor injuries earlier in the season, will not be fit enough to attend this years Olympics. However, he fully supports this years team.
Ben Maher MBE, age 33, based Hertfordshire, with Jane Forbes Clark and his own Tic Tac
Nick Skelton OBE, age 58, based Warwickshire, with Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star
John Whitaker MBE, age 60, based West Yorkshire, with Team Harmony Management Co Ltd’s Ornellaia
Michael Whitaker, age 56, based Nottinghamshire, with Beverley Widdowson’s Cassionato
Travelling reserve: Jessica Mendoza, age 20, hometown Wiltshire, with Sarah Mendoza’s Spirit
We look forward to watching and supporting our riders in Rio and wish them all the utmost success!
