Laura will make her Olympic debut on Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott’s and her own London 52 (“Dan”).
Laura Collett in her new Team GB kit for Tokyo.
(Image credit: BEF / Jon Stroud Media)
She told H&H: “It’s a bit crazy, it’s probably not really sunk in yet. When it was made official yesterday, it was a bit of a surreal reality that it was actually happening. It’s just an unbelievable feeling after years and years of working towards something and thinking you’ll never achieve it.
“To be selected in a year like this, with the combinations Team GB has, makes it extra special.
“The horses go into quarantine at the British Showjumping centre near Lutterworth a week on Saturday. Up until then, it’s a case of trying to keep me and Dan in one piece, trying not to change anything and just getting everything sorted. It’s all becoming reality quite quickly.”
Oliver Townend after kitting out for the Tokyo Olympics.
(Image credit: BEF / Jon Stroud Media)
Oliver will contest his first Olympics riding Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s Ballaghmor Class (“Thomas”).
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“I am absolutely delighted to have been selected,” he said. “To represent Great Britain at the Olympics is something I’ve been dreaming about for a very long time and it’s such an honour.
“It will be very different from what I can imagine other Olympics have been, but we are a very strong team and I’m in great company with Laura, Tom [McEwen] and Piggy [March] as travelling reserve so we will go there with big ambitions and try to make everyone at home proud.
“Ballaghmor Class is just such an incredible horse and has been so consistent. He really is a horse of a lifetime and the opportunity to compete at my first Olympics with him is hard not to get emotional about.
“I’m very grateful to his owners Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan, who have been supporting us for a long time, as well as the many others that have been part of the journey – grooms, physios, doctors, dentists, farriers, vets, sponsors, owners, family and friends. The list is very long and although they won’t be able to be with us physically in Tokyo, they are still a major part of this success that I will be always grateful for.”
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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.
