British eventing squad selected for WEG
The British eventing squad for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) has been named:
- Tina Cook with Jim Chromiak and her own De Novo News
- William Fox-Pitt with Christopher Stone’s Chilli Morning
- Pippa Funnell with Jonathan and Jane Clarke’s Billy Beware
- Zara Phillips with Gleadhill House Stud Ltd’s High Kingdom
- Izzy Taylor Frances Carter and Susan Holroyd’s Allercombe Ellie
- Oliver Townend with Karyn Shuter’s Black Tie II
Chef de mission Will Connell said: “The 2014 World Equestrian Games represents the first of only 2 opportunities for GBR to qualify a team by right for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“Achieving this qualification is the primary objective of the selection policy and we head to WEG with the expertise and talent to achieve this. This team has demonstrable medal-winning experience and benefits from the valuable support of Lottery funding. Results this spring show there are many nations in the hunt for medals and that Britain is certainly one of those.”
2 of the riders on the squad, Tina Cook and Pippa Funnell, are riding home-bred horses.
Tina commented: “I’m thrilled to be selected, especially on a home-bred horse, who I think is a superstar. I’m very excited for the future for him and I’m so thrilled for Jim Chromiak, who’s been a long term and loyal owner of mine for over 20 years.
“WEG this time around [commenting about Kentucky, 2010] will be hugely easier in terms of logistics as there’s no flight involved, but this doesn’t take away from the prestige of a World Championships — where you are competing up against the best in world.”
Zara Phillips is riding at her 2nd World Championships after taking individual gold in 2006 and her first major event since giving birth to her daughter Mia.
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She said: “Obviously I’m really excited; it’s fantastic to be part of a team again. We’ve got a bit of work still to do to get back to where we were last year, but will have a few more outings to make sure we are right on target with our preparation.
“High Kingdom has improved each year and every time I’ve taken him to a big competition he’s got better and better. He’s felt good this year and hopefully will peak at the right time.
“None of us can do it without our owners and Trevor [Hemmings] has been with me a long time; he’s been a huge part of the yard for such a long time and I’m glad we’ve found such a good horse for him.”
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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.