Flora Harris out of British eventing squad for Blair European Championships
Flora Harris will not ride on the British squad at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle (10-13 September). She has been replaced by first reserve Tom Jackson, riding Waltham Fiddlers Find.
Flora and Bayano, owned by her mother Caroline and Rebecca Salt, were selected for the championship following their win in the CCI3* at Bramham in June. However, the pair had three run-outs across country in the Nations Cup at Aachen, Germany, last week.
The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) released a statement this morning saying: “The British eventing senior selectors have decided to substitute Bayano… following the horse’s recent lack of form at the eventing CICO3* Nations Cup event in Aachen… All selected athlete/horse combinations are required to maintain their performance and fitness ahead of a championship.”
Tom Jackson, 22, sprang into the spotlight when he won the under-25 CCI3* at Bramham last year on his parents’ and his own Waltham Fiddlers Find. The pair have also won junior team gold (2011) and young rider team silver (2013) and team bronze medals (2014). They finished sixth in the under-25 class at Bramham this year.
Waltham Fiddlers Find is a 12-year-old by Jetset D, out of a Lux mare called Sabina. He has 440 British Eventing points and Tom has produced him throughout his eventing career, starting from BE90 and BE100 in 2009. The pair will make their senior championship debut at Blair.
In addition to this change, there has been a change of horse for Blair squad rider Izzy Taylor. She was initially selected with Allercombe Ellie, but the mare was lame in Aachen so did not compete. Izzy will now ride her direct reserve horse, Guy Avis’ 15-year-old KBIS Briarlands Matilda.
Full report of the eventing Nations Cup in Aachen in H&H this week, out Thursday, 20 August. This issue also contains our bumper report on the European Dressage Championships.
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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.