Piggy French and Quarrycrest Echo at Aachen
The British Equestrian Federation has announced the UK Sport National Lottery funded eventing squad that will compete at the FEI European Championships in Strzegom, Poland (17 – 20 August 2017).
The selected squad has been named by British Eventing selectors as (alphabetical order):
Rosalind Canter, 31, based in Lincolnshire, with Caroline Moore's and her own Allstar B
Kristina (Tina) Cook, 46, based in West Sussex, with Elisabeth Murdoch and Keith Tyson’s Billy The Red
Piggy French, 36, based in Leicestershire, with Jayne McGivern’s Quarrycrest Echo
Gemma Tattersall, 32, based in West Sussex, with the Pebbles Syndicate’s Quicklook V
Oliver Townend, 34, based in Shropshire, with Angela Hislop’s Cooley SRS
Nicola Wilson, 40, based in North Yorkshire, with James and Jo Lambert’s Bulana
Tina is also selected with Pip Wates, Ailsa Wates and Equine Aqua Training’s Calvino II as a direct reserve.
The final team of four and two individuals will be announced on arrival in Strzegom.
First and second reserves are (in numerical order):
Sarah Cohen, 43, based in Leicestershire, with Preci-Spark Ltd and Elizabeth Jones’s Treason
Alexander Bragg, 36, based in Somerset, with Sally Ellicot’s Zagreb
“I am very happy to be back in the team again after being picked as a reserve for the last two years and to have two horses selected is incredibly exciting. Even though I have been on many teams before, each team is different and it is a massive privilege to represent my country” says Tina Cook who will travel to her eighth Europeans as the most experienced rider on the team while Ros Canter is ready for her championship debut
“I am very excited, particularly for everyone involved in Team Canter and everybody who has helped me and Allstar B to get here. His owner, Caroline Moore is a massive supporter. She has been instrumental in my career and I have always felt privileged to ride for her. I have been to Strzegom twice and I have had happy experiences, finishing in the top five each time after having really good runs. It is a fantastic venue and it’s a really friendly place to be and so it’s exciting to be going back.”
Bulana, Cooley SRS and Quarrycrest Echo are three of the selected horses that will make their senior championship debuts
“It will be Cooley SRS's first championship which makes it as exciting as ever” says Oliver Townend of the 10 year old Irish Sport Horse “I think he could be a very competitive feature for the team” while Piggy French is excited and surprised to be selected after coming back to competition following the birth of her son
“I had last year off and so it’s amazing to be back at the top level and to be selected to represent my country. I have a very loyal and hardworking team at home who have helped me to get back up to this position. My owner Jayne McGivern has been a massive supporter and a great friend, which makes this double special as she has only just come into the sport. Red [Quarrycrest Echo] is a young horse but he has looked very smart this year and just seems to be improving all the time. After our good run at Aachen we can go there with confidence”
However The Pebbles Syndicate’s Quicklook V will be travelling to her second consecutive major championship after her Olympic debut in Rio
“We have some of the most talented riders in the world on our team. I am very excited to be going with Quicklook V who has been on very good form this year. I feel like she has grown up a lot in the last 12 months. Although the result at the Olympic Games last year wasn’t what we wanted, we learnt a hell of a lot from it and we can’t wait to get there and give it our best shot” says Gemma
Performance Manager, Richard Waygood MBE says that it was a difficult job choosing the team
“The selectors have had their work cut out as there has been quality and depth to choose from. I am equally excited for the owners who have all shown great commitment in making their horses available for the Championships.
Further selected reserves (in alphabetical order):
Rosalind Canter and her own Zenshera
Laura Collett, 37, based in Berkshire, with Keith and Louise Scott, Nick and Lyn How and her own Mr Bass
Pippa Funnell MBE, 49, based in Surrey, with Filippo Friedenberg and her own Billy The Biz
Tom McEwen, 26, based in Wiltshire, with Jane Inns, Ali McEwen and his own Toledo de Kerser
Willa Newton, 27, based in Leicestershire, with Joey Newton and Lady Sarah McCorquodale’s Caja 20
Gemma Tattersall with The Soul Syndicate’s Arctic Soul
Isabelle (Izzy) Taylor, 34, based in Oxfordshire, with Dr Patricia Turner’s Trevidden
Oliver Townend with Karyn Shuter and Angela Hislop’s Ballaghmor Class
Nicola Wilson with Gerry and Mary Kemp and Janine Shewan’s One Two Many
