Five-star campaigners and gold medallists among British squad for first under-25 eventing World Championships
The British squad for the under-25 eventing World Championships at Millstreet has been announced.
The inaugural event gets under way in Ireland on 22 July. British Eventing (BE) selectors have now confirmed which Brits will be in action.
The young squad features plenty of scope and talent. Newly crowned U25 national champions Alice Casburn and Topspin bring forward a wealth of five-star experience, with an enviable nine completions and five finishes in the top 10. Alice and her mother Caroline’s home-bred gelding were part of the gold medal-winning young rider squad at the 2022 Europeans, where they won individual bronze.
Tom Bird is another seasoned five-star campaigner, though on different horses to the young Lenny. This nine-year-old mare, who competed in the Blenheim eight- and nine-year-olds last autumn, is yet to have a jumping fault across country.
Cerys Macaulay finished 15th in the Bramham CCI4*-S last month with her boyfriend Richard Coney’s Kananaskis. This 18-year-old gelding completed Pau with Richard in 2020 and was part of the team at the young rider Europeans in 2019. Cerys took over the reins in 2024.
Jasmine Underwood is the world number two young rider. She and Indian Girl G have five championships under their belt; including individual and team gold at the 2024 young rider Europeans. The pair were ninth at Royal Jump CCI4*-L in May and runners-up in the Ballindenisk CCI4*-S in April.
Jess Rimmer took over the reins of The Spice Merchant from Alexandra Munn in March last year. The pair are another to have a blemish-free international cross-country jumping record. They have completed three four-star shorts this spring; at Thoresby Park, Belsay and Bramham.
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The British squad for the under-25 eventing World Championships is:
Tom Bird, 24, with nine-year-old mare Lenny
Owner: rider and his mother Frances, and Helen Kerry
Barnie Brotherton, 23, with 11-year-old gelding DHI King Nelson
Owner: Naomi Brotherton
Alice Casburn, 24, with 18-year-old gelding Topspin
Owner: Alice and her mother Caroline
Cerys Macaulay, 24, with 18-year-old gelding Kananaskis
Owner: Richard and Wendy Coney
Jess Rimmer, 24, with 14-year-old gelding The Spice Merchant
Owner: The Portman Ladies Syndicate
Jasmine Underwood, 21, with 13-year-old mare Indian Girl G
Owner: rider
Reserves:
Alice Casburn with nine-year-old mare LSS Ile De Re (direct reserve for Topsin)
Owner: Sally Witte and Carline Casburn
Finn Healy with nine-year-old gelding Greannanstown Monbeg Joe
Owner: rider
Lucy Stimson with 16-year-old Tynan Cooley
Owner: rider
“We are delighted to announce the combinations selected to represent Great Britain at the under-25 World Eventing Championships in Millstreet. The selectors have chosen riders and horses who they believe are best prepared to perform on this stage and represent BE with pride,” said chef d’equipe David Sheerin.
“We have two strong squads heading to Ireland, and it is fantastic to see the talent, dedication and hard work within the under-25 programme. The whole British Eventing youth programme is behind them, and we wish all the riders and their teams the very best of luck for the championships.”
A BE spokesperson thanked the governing body’s official safety partner Charles Owen, which as part of its long-term support of BE, is supplying each rider with a new Kontor body protector and custom team covers.
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.