New Performance Manager for dressage

The British Equestrian Federation has appointed Ian Williams as World Class Performance Manager for dressage and Paralympic dressage.

Ian will be responsible for overseeing the identification, training and selection of potential horses and riders for the Olympic and Paralympic teams.

He will also be developing and implementing the dressage element of the World Class Performance Plan.

Mr Williams has extensive international commercial experience, having managed companies and worked as a consultant in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

For the past 11 years, Ian has been involved in Endurance Riding. He was chef d’Equipe to the Endurance World Championship team that won a silver medal in France in 2000.

Speaking about the appointment British Dressage chairman, Desi Dillingham, said: “One of the key factors that emerged from the post-Sydney debrief was the urgent need for a Performance Manager. So we are delighted to have been able to find someone of such experience and stature at this early stage in the build up to Athens 2004. Ian showed the strong leadership, planning and management skills that this job and the British Dressage teams need. We look forward very much to working with him in the run up to Athens.”

The position of Performance Manager is funded by Lottery money from UK Sport as part of their commitment to developing elite athletes and Great Britain’s sporting success.

Ianwill take up this new role on 1 June 2001 and will be based at his home in Cornwall.

Commenting on his new position Ian said: “I am very excited to be joining the existing team at the BEF and looking forward to working with British Dressage as we prepare our teams for a successful trip to Athens.”