British Team to contest Riding Club European Championship
British Riding Clubs are sending a team of six riders and
two individuals to contest the Riding Club European Eventing
Championship taking place at Minderhout, Belgium from 17 to
20 July.
The squad of eight, led by Chef d’Equipe Richard Waygood
and Chef de Mission Sir Robert Hayman-Joyce, consists of:
Emma Mould and Lord Bertram (South Durham RC), Julie Hardy
and The Ribble Rebel (East Midlands Dressage Group), Kate
Scott and A Touch of Dutch (South Devon RC), Alison Lidstone
and Creevagh George (South Oxfordshire RC), Fiona Muirhead
and Rose’s Double (Kilmacolm RC), Samantha York and
Tia Maria (East Midlands Dressage Group), Sara Deary and Shiver
St. George (Sunniside RC) and Natasha Eastwood and Indigo
Night (Holme Valley RC), The two non-travelling reserves are
Jane Rock and Mystic Legend (Reigate & District RC), and
Erika Green with Galbaly Prince (Wilmslow RC).
In 2002, the event was hosted by British Riding Clubs at
Hartpury College, Gloucester, when Great Britain won the Bronze
medal. The 2003 team has a great deal of experience with four
riders and two horses who have taken part in the championship
before. Emma Mould (Lord Bertram) and Sara Deary (Shiver St.
George) represented Britain at last year’s championship
with Sara completing in fourth place overall. Kate Scott was
also a member of the 2002 team and Julie Hardy was a member
of the 1999 bronze medal winning team.
A unique feature of this championship is the team dressage
where all six team members ride the test together. This requires
well-matched horses that are happy working together. The team
dressage is followed by individual dressage, cross country
and show jumping phases. The event is now recognised by the
FEI and counts as a CIC** qualification. British Riding Clubs
have been sending a team to compete in this European Championship
since 1991 and have won the bronze medal on the last two occasions.
The team will meet for a final training session (12-13 July)
under the critical eye of Richard Waygood and will then travel
on to Belgium. Richard has recently received a British Horse
Society Award of Merit for his work in training successive
British teams for this championship.
The team is supported by; Dodson & Horrell, Baillie Haylage,
Caroline Barber Equestrian, Ride N Style, Shearwater Insurance,
teque-style, Comfort Zone Equestrian, Ride Out and Airowear.
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