‘Everyone agreed to give the opportunity to Harry’: Team GB manager explains Olympic showjumping team substitution

Harry Charles and Romeo 88 will take part in the individual Olympic competition

(Image credit: Photo Copyright © CSIO.CH / Kat)

Great Britain’s showjumping performance manager Di Lampard has explained the reasons behind the team’s 11th-hour substitution ahead of the start of the Olympic showjumping at the Tokyo Games tomorrow (Tuesday 3 August).

Speaking to H&H after it was announced that 22-year-old Harry Charles would replace Holly Smith in the first leg of the individual competition, Di revealed: “It’s a pre-competition change that has been made.

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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.

‘Everyone agreed to give the opportunity to Harry’: Team GB manager explains Olympic showjumping team substitution

“Before we left for Tokyo I discussed this plan with the team involving all the relevant owners.

“The squad of four are working together to maximise their chances to bring medals home and everyone agreed to give the opportunity in the individual to Harry.”

British Equestrian (BEF) announced earlier today that alternate combination Harry and Romeo 88, owned by Harry and Ann Thompson, had been brought in to replace Holly and Ian Dowie’s Denver.

Mr Dowie’s Runningwell Sport Horses said in a statement: “Denver is still competing in the Olympic team finals, we have decided that he doesn’t jump in the individual event to keep him at his best.”

The change means Harry and Romeo, Scott and Jefferson and Ben and Explosion will contest the individual competition, which starts tomorrow with a qualifying round (3 August) and concludes with the final on Wednesday.

The team competition starts on Friday (6 August) with a qualifier, and the top 10 teams will contest the final the following day, all starting on a zero score. In line with the equestrian Olympic rules, a change may be made to the team up to two hours before the class begins.

“A substitution may be made provided it is completed during the period between the end of the jumping team qualifier and up to two hours before the start of the jumping team final on Saturday, 7 August,” a BEF spokesman said.

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