Crisis meeting for British show jumpers

British show jumpers held a crisis meeting at last week’s Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead, following unkind comments about their recent international performances, according to thisweek’s Horse & Hound magazine.

According to the report, “after a difficult season for the sport, the final straw was the Samsung Nations Cup on the Friday of the show which saw the British team finish fifth of the seven teams.”

The riders are reported to have expressed disappointment in the current situation and felt that rider involvement in BSJA international policy and strategy was essential for the success of the sport in this country.

Robert Smith and Tim Stockdale were elected jointspokesmen at meeting which was for members of the World Class Performance Plan (WCPP) and Derek Ricketts was nominated as the riders’ choice for the role of international team manager.

Read full report in this week’s Horse & Hound (2 August).