Zara Phillips misses out on Rio Olympic place
Zara Phillips will not contest the Rio Olympics this summer — the rider is not among the British eventers nominated for the Games.
The FEI has today released the lists of nominated entries for eventing, dressage and showjumping, as well as for the Paralympic dressage. This consists of up to 12 combinations per nation per discipline if the country has qualified to take a full team to Rio, plus up to three further horses (whose riders must be listed in the main block with another mount).
The final Olympic entries (four horses per team, plus a travelling reserve) have to be made by 18 July, but horses not listed on today’s nominated entries cannot go to the Games.
Zara, who now competes under married name (Tindall), achieved her individual qualification for Rio at Badminton with High Kingdom — who missed last season due to an injury in his stable at Kentucky in the spring — and the horse had his first outing since then last weekend, when he finished eighth in the open intermediate at Nunney. But today’s news means these London 2012 team silver medallists will not be part of the British team this time.
There are no other real surprises among the British combinations listed. The final team selection will be announced on 5 July.
Two British riders have been nominated with more than one horse — Gemma Tattersall is listed with Chico Bella P and Quicklook V, plus she has Arctic Soul on the reserve list. It’s a similar situation for Tina Cook, who has Calvino II and Billy The Red on the main list, plus Star Witness in a reserve slot.
Among those listed, Tina Cook, William Fox-Pitt and Nicola Wilson all competed at London 2012, while Pippa Funnell has previous Olympic experience too. Laura Collett, Kitty King, Tom McEwen, Gemma Tattersall, Izzy Taylor and Holly Woodhead would be Olympic debutants if they get the final call-up for Rio.
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The British eventers nominated are:
- Laura Collett on Grand Manoeuvre
- Tina Cook on Calvino II and Billy The Red
- William Fox-Pitt on Chilli Morning
- Pippa Funnell on Billy The Biz
- Kitty King on Ceylor LAN
- Tom McEwen on Toledo De Kerser
- Gemma Tattersall on Chico Bella P and Quicklook V
- Izzy Taylor and Allercombe Ellie
- Holly Woodhead on DHI Lupison
- Nicola Wilson on One Two Many
- Laura Collett on Pamero 4 (reserve)
- Tina Cook on Star Witness (reserve)
- Gemma Tattersall on Arctic Soul (reserve)
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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.