The riders who will be carrying Britain’s hopes in the Olympic and Paralympic dressage in Athens have been named.
The dressage team will be:
- Richard Davison riding Ballaseyr Royale
- Carl Hester riding Escapado
- Emma Hindle riding Wie Weltmeyer
- Nicola McGivern riding Active Walero
The reserves are Wayne Channon (Lorenzo CH), Emile Faurie (Rascher Hopes), and Peter Storr (Gambrinus). The chef d’equipe is to be David Trott.
Three of the four named riders were part of the bronze medal-winning European Championship team from 2003, and all are members of the World Class Performance Plan.
Trott said: “Many of the horses and riders we considered have shown real improvement in their performances over the last six months. We were pleased to see not only four strong riders for Athens but also talented horses and riders for the future.
“With over two months to go, the team will now be continuing their competition campaign, and we are confident that each one of them can produce excellent performances in Athens,” he continued.
Paralympic hopes
Three of Britain’s equestrian gold-medallists at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic teams return for Athens 2004, with a squad it is hoped will equal the stunning success in Sydney in 2000, where they won team gold.
The team is as follows:
- Grade la: Sophie Christiansen
- Grade la: Anne Dunham
- Grade lb: Lee Pearson
- Grade ll: Joanne Pitt
- Grade ll: Nicola Tustain
- Grade lll: Debbie Criddle
- Grade lV: Michelle Crunkhorn
The team’s non-travelling reserve is Ricky Balshaw.
Sixteen-year-old Sophie Christiansen will be one of the youngest members of the British team competing in Athens.
Phil Lane, the UK’s chef de mission for the Games, said: “Our equestrian riders produced some outstanding performances at Sydney and I’d like to wish them the very best of luck in their continuing preparations for Athens, where I hope they will repeat their success of four years ago.”
