Zara Phillips heads back to Aachen
Zara Phillips (pictured) will compete at the team event in Aachen (5-7 July) as part of her preparation for this year’s European Eventing Championships.
26-year-old Zara will return to the German venue where she won gold at last year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG). She will again partner Toytown to compete for Britain against six other teams in the CIC***.
The British selectors have chosen Zara Phillips’s fellow WEG squad member Sharon Hunt (Tankers Town) to compete alongside the World Champion eventer, plus Emily Baldwin (Drivetime) and Francis Whittington (Sir Percival III).
Emily and Francis both put up excellent performances at the recent CCI*** at Saumur, finishing sixth and seventh. Neither have previously ridden for Britain at senior level, so this should be a good opportunity for them to gain experience in a team situation.
Emily and Drivetime won the Hartpury CCI** last year. Francis, a former pony European Champion, was seventh at Blenheim last year with Sir Percival III, when they were were the only pair to finish the cross-country inside the time.
This is the first time eventing has been part of the World Equestrian Festival at Aachen and follows the success of the sport at last year’s WEG.
www.chioaachen.de
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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.