British equestrian performance director to move from Team GBR to USEF
World Class performance director Will Connell has announced he is leaving the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) after this summer’s World Equestrian Games.
Will has spent 11 years in the role and co-ordinated and delivered the UK Sport National Lottery-funded World Class programme. He was also the team leader for the equestrian sports at the last 3 Olympics and chef de mission at the 2006 and 2010 World Equestrian Games.
BEF chief executive Andrew Finding said: “Will Connell has been an outstanding performance director; he has worked day and night for the cause.
“We will miss him and wish him well in his new challenge.”
Will, who was awarded an MBE after the London Olympics in recognition of his services to equestrian sport, will take up the position of director of sport for the United States Equestrian Federation.
“Being part of the journey over the last 11 years has been an honour and a privilege; London 2012 was of course the highlight but there have been many others in terms of what the programme, the riders, the horses, the owners, the staff and all those who support them have achieved,” said Will.
“I believe the programme is in a very good shape and success in Rio 2016 for the GBR equestrian teams is well mapped out.
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“My immediate focus and aim is to do all I can to help Team GBR meet its UK Sport targets and deliver medals at the World Equestrian Games 2014.”
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.