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An all-girl British dressage team is off to Hong Kong

Laura Bechtolsheimer with Mistral Hojris at home

Sarah Gorrie, dressage editor

25 June, 2008

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The British Olympic Association (BOA) has selected Laura Bechtolsheimer (pictured right), Emma Hindle and Jane Gregory (nee Bredin) to represent Britain in dressage at the Hong Kong Olympics this August.

Laura will contest her first Olympics riding her own and her father Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Mistral Hojris.

The pair are Britain’s highest-scoring combination, having broken the international grand prix record at Olympia World Cup qualifier last December.

Laura said: “Our whole season has been focused on selection but to have it confirmed still feels surreal, it hasn’t sunk in.

Mistral Hojris is very special and I feel privileged to have a horse like him to take to my first Olympics.”

Team stalwart Emma Hindle partners her own stallion Lancet, with whom she was best of the British at the World Equestrian Games 2006 in Aachen.

Jane Gregory rides her partner Aram’s 16-year-old Lucky Star, whom she has had from a four-year-old. Jane returned to top international competition in the past two years, having last ridden at a major championship on Cupido at Atlanta 1996.

“I am in a state of shock,” she said of her selection. “My goal this year has been to improve my riding and my training. We’ve been enjoying our international success so much and never dared to hope we would be in contention for an Olympic team position.”

Richard Davison, British Team Captain said: “These riders have shown extremely good and consistent results throughout the season and I am confident we have a competitive team.”

The federation is yet to announce Britain’s travelling reserve.


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