British Eventing names juniors for European Championships
Two members of last year’s squad will fly the flag for Britain again at this August’s junior European Eventing Championships (14-17 August).
Marina Lawson-Smith, part of the gold medal-winning team last year, has a new ride this time, Sky Sport. Fergus Payne rode as an individual in Avenches, Switzerland, last year, and is back on the squad with Secret Avalanche.
This year’s championships are at Thirlestane Castle in the Scottish Borders, so Britain can field 12 combinations as host nation.
Other prominent members of the squad include reigning British under-18 champion Evie Paterson (Direct Opposition), Jardy CCI* winner Gaby Cooke (Northcroft Frontier) and last year’s double pony gold medallist Libby Soley (Kachemire Le Beau or Noble Springbok).
The team of four will be nominated nearer the event, with the other eight riders competing as individuals.
The squad will go into final concentration at Gill Watson’s base at Quainton Stud on 4-8 August, before leaving for Thirlestane on 12 August.
The full squad is:
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- Giles Blanchard, 17, and his own Arnies Game
- Gaby Cooke, 17, and Peter Cooke’s Northcroft Frontier
- Iona Dent, 17, and her own Insync
- Mary Edmundson, 16, and Fred Merrett’s Serano
- Dani Evans, 16, and Heather Sheppard’s Uchin
- Amy Hawley, 17, and Lucy Hawley’s Helpful Harry II
- Marina Lawson-Smith, 17, and her own Sky Sport
- Sienna Myson-Davies, 16, and her own Tambourine
- Willa Newton, 18, and Joey Newton’s Neelix
- Evie Paterson, 16, and her own Direct Opposition
- Fergus Payne, 18, and Michael Payne’s Secret Avalanche
- Libby Soley, 17, and her own Kachemire Le Beau or Noble Springbok
Reserve
- Harry Dzenis, 17, and his own Rockin Robin
- Rosie Chinery, 17, and One Way
- Tim Rogers, 16, and his own Corrieview Owen
- Eleanor Barns-Graham, 18, and Shadow Light
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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.