Who will be on the British eventing team?
The senior selectors will make an announcement about the British squad for the European Eventing Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro (13-16 September) next week.
Most of the team hopefuls are in action this weekend, either at Barbury Castle in Wiltshire or in Germany at Aachen.
In Germany, World Champion Zara Phillips, who must be guaranteed a place to defend her European Championship title, rides Toytown in the inaugural team eventing competition at the Aachen CHIO.
Sharon Hunt also returns to the site of the World Equestrian Games (WEG) with Tankers Town. After her excellent performance there last year, she will be hopeful about being back on the squad after putting in a good dressage test at Badminton, and finishing fifth at Chatsworth.
At Barbury, William Fox-Pitt and the consistent Ballincoola should secure their place, as should Mary King. She and Call Again Cavalier had a run-out at last year’s WEG, but they put in a superlative performance to win Chatsworth.
So, who is in the running for the other two places? Both Sarah Cohen — best of the Brits in ninth at Badminton with Hide And Seek II — and Ruth Edge, Luhmühlen winner with Two Thyme, must have had a good chance, but they are out of the picture through horse injuries.
Oliver Townend and Flint Curtis, who will be at Barbury, are probably favourites for a spot. Flint Curtis was disappointing in the first phase at WEG and Badminton, but his jumping seems very secure and he’s had good form this season.
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And perhaps Georgie Davies (pictured) will make her senior squad debut with Fachoudette? Their results are impressive — third at Luhmühlen, a CIC*** winner at Burnham Market and under-25 champions at Bramham last year.
Daisy Dick would probably have to pull something special out of the bag at Barbury to rescue her place. Spring Along’s dressage was below par at WEG and Badminton, and his usually foot-perfect cross-country went wrong at Luhmühlen too, with two stops.
Rodney Powell has had excellent three-star results this season with Langarth Darcy, who heads to Barbury, while Emily Baldwin (Drivetime) and Francis Whittington (Sir Percival III) are the other two in the British team at Aachen. But none of these three combinations have four-star form, which has always traditionally been a pre-requisite for a British squad spot.
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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.