Dressage and para dressage selectors for the European Championships will have a tough job on their hands in choosing the final squads, as the nominated entries list has been released.
The riders and horses nominated for the dressage in Rotterdam (18 to 24 August) are:
Lara Butler with Wilfried and Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s 17-year-old bay gelding Rubin Al Asad
Richard Davison with Gwendolyn Meyer’s and his own 13-year-old bay gelding Bubblingh
Charlotte Dujardin with Sonnar Murray Brown’s 12-year-old bay gelding Erlentanz and Emma and Jill Blundell’s 10-year-old bay mare Mount St John Freestyle
Lottie (Charlotte) Fry with van Olst Horses’ and her own 11-year-old bay gelding Dark Legend and van Olst Horses’ 10-year-old black stallion Everdale
Carl Hester with his own, Lady Anne Evans’ and Ann Cory’s 11-year-old bay gelding Hawtins Delicato
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Gareth Hughes with his own, Rebecca Hughes’ and Julia Hornig’s 13-year-old bay mare Classic Briolinca
Dressage world class performance manager Caroline Griffith said: “We’re really excited about, and looking forward to, the European Championships at Rotterdam.
“It’s a showground we know well and one that’s been the setting for some fabulous performances from Team GBR dressage combinations in the past. As we build towards the championships we have seen some fantastic results from all the combinations on the nominated list. I anticipate some tough decisions for the selectors when the final team is chosen.
“Achieving a place on this list will have been the aim of the owners, riders and their support teams and they have done a phenomenal job to get to this stage.”
Up to four of these riders will be chosen to represent Great Britain in Rotterdam.
Nominated para horses and riders
The nominated para dressage horses and riders are:
Mari Durward-Akhurst (Grade I) with Glesni Owen’s 20-year-old gelding Sky O’Hara
Nicky Greenhill (Grade IV) with her own and Gary Greenhill’s 10-year-old mare Betty Boo and 11-year-old gelding King Edward I
Erin Orford (Grade III) with Annabel Whittet’s 16-year-old mare Dior
Julie Payne (Grade II) with her own 18-year-old mare Pandora
Sophie Wells (Grade V) with Charlotte Hogg’s 12-year-old gelding C Fatal Attraction and her own 11-year-old mare Diadeem
Georgia Wilson (Grade II) with her own and Geoff and Julie Wilson’s 10-year-old mare Midnight
World Class para-equestrian dressage performance manager Georgina Sharples said: “Great Britain’s nominated para-dressage list is comprised of a mix of potentially first-time championship partnerships alongside Paralympic, World and European medal-winning expertise – it’s a great reflection of the strength and depth of the riders within the Equestrian Team GBR pathway.
“I’m thrilled for the nominated athletes, their support teams, and the horse owners who invest so much into the sport, that their passion and commitment has resulted in performances worthy of inclusion on the European Championship nominated list.”
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
