British riders to compete at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival
Seven young British riders will be travelling to Sydney early next year to compete in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
It will be the first time that equestrianism has been included in the event, which runs from 14-18 January.
Show jumpers Daniel Neilson, Matthew Sampson, Louise Saywell and William Whitaker will take part, along with dressage riders Emily Cousins, Jessica Dunn and Charlie Hutton, who are coached by Di Lampard and Gareth Hughes respectively.
Mr Hughes told H&H: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for youth riders. There is the element of the unknown as they will be competing on borrowed horses — which makes it that bit more difficult.
“They are a good group of riders and it will be fun and interesting, but it is hard to say what our chances are until we are over there and can see the quality of horses they are given and begin the training.”
Caroline Griffith, equestrian team leader, said: “The riders were selected on their successful performances at both national and international level, as well as taking into account their ability to ride different horses.
“They’re all thrilled about this opportunity to compete on a world stage.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
The riders, who are all 19 or under, will be among more than 100 young British athletes competing in the event.
In total over 1,600 athletes from 25 nations will take part in the biennual festival, which was set up by the Australian Olympic Committee as part of the legacy of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.