William Fox-Pitt, Harry Meade and Nicola Wilson have all withdrawn from consideration for the European Championships, owing to injury and fitness issues.
William and Little Fire (pictured), Harry and Away Cruising and Nicola and Bulana have been replaced in the nominated entries for the event in Luhmühlen (28 August to 1 September) by Ben Hobday with Shadow Man, Imogen Murray with Ivar Gooden, and Izzy Taylor with PSH Gazelle.
“Sadly, Little Fire managed to bruise a hind cannon bone after Badminton,” said William. “There is no ligament or tendon damage to be found but he now needs to have an easy time, meaning he will miss any opportunity of Europeans selection. He is a young horse with lots to look forward to, and I’m hoping the disappointment will be very short-lived.”
Harry said Away Cruising had missed some work, and the championships will “come too soon” for him.
“We’re considering his options for the rest of the season, but with the Olympics next year in mind, our priority is to have him in the best possible form in the spring,” he said. “It’s a great shame, but we’ll be cheering on the Brits at the Europeans next month.”
Nicola said having to withdraw was a “huge disappointment”, for Bulana and her owners, James and Jo Lambert.
“But due to multiple fractures in my neck sustained in a fall from a young horse in Arville, I’m sadly unable to compete for the rest of this season,” she said. “I’d like to thank my owners, the World Class staff, my home staff and my family, friends and the eventing community for all their support, and look forward to getting back out again next season after a busy winter preparing.”
Continues below…
Shock as German event star tests positive at Europeans
Germany will lose team silver medal if the B test also returns a positive result for the controlled substance
Harry Meade’s top hunting tips
A pre-hunting course could be just what you need to set you up for the season
Subscribe to Horse & Hound this spring for great savings
The updated nominated entries list is:
Alex Bragg with Mr and Mrs Ellicott’s Zagreb
Sarah Bullimore with Christopher and Susan Gillespie and Brett Bullimore’s Reve du Rouet
Laura Collett with her own, Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott’s London 52
Kristina Cook with Elisabeth Murdoch’s Billy The Red
Piggy French with Jayne Mcgivern’s Quarrycrest Echo and Trevor Dickens’ Vanir Kamira
Pippa Funnell with her own and Marek Sebestak’s Majas Hope
Ben Hobday with his own and Jane Chambers’ Shadow Man
Richard Jones with his own, Dinah Saunders and Sandra Martin’s Alfies Clover
Kitty King with Diana Bown, Sally Eyre, Samantha Wilson and Sally Lloyd-Baker’s 10-year-old gelding Vendredi Biats
Tom McEwen with Barbara Cooper’s Figaro Van Het Broekxhof and Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Inns and Alison McEwen’s Toledo de Kerser
Imogen Murray with Aivar Ward and the M S Team’s Ivar Gooden
Gemma Tattersall with the Soul Syndicate’s Arctic Soul and Christopher Stone’s Jalapeno III
Izzy Taylor with Gary Power’s PSH Gazelle
Oliver Townend with Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s Ballaghmor Class and Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
