Racesafe British Junior European Squad In Final Preparations

With the final concentrated training session due to start today, the Racesafe British Junior Squad have already been hard at work honing their skills ahead of next week’s FEI Junior European Championships at Bishop Burton College, Beverly, Yorkshire.

At Weston Lawns last weekend Angela Tucker judged each rider’s dressage test, and then went through every movement, explaining to them how to improve the test. Caroline Moore, the Team Coach, then built a show jumping course and helped them improve this phase. The group then moved on to Vale View where Antonia Brown joined Caroline for the training.

The riders are now focusing on the finishing touches, with a last gallop on Saturday and a final trot up at 6.30am on Sunday. The squad will then head North on Monday morning.

“Team spirit is high, and all the riders have worked very hard on their performances,” said Ginnie Keen, Chairman of the British Junior Selectors. “They are a great group who all get along very well, which is always a good sign; Sam and Harry have definitely been keeping the girls entertained!

“We remain grateful to the parents, friends, Racesafe, British Eventing, the World Class Programme and the Horse Trials Support Group for their support. We undoubtedly have a talented Squad and we will head to the Championships with every intention of keeping the medals in the country.”

The 2014 Squad in alphabetical order is:

Rider Age and location Horse Horse details
Sara Ashworth 18, from Cheshire Glenomra Hero 8 year old gelding (Crannagh Hero)
Katie Bleloch 18, from Warwickshire Bulano 8 year old gelding (by Colandro)
Lily Bradstock 18, from Oxfordshire Ceriska 7 year old mare (by King Kolibri)
Sam Ecroyd 17, from Flintshire Wodan IV 11 year old gelding (by Mr Concorde B.J)
Kristina Hall Jackson 17, from West Yorkshire Lemington Lets Dance 16 year old gelding (by Court Croner)
Harry Harding 17, from Devon Tarmac Adam 16 year old gelding (by Utopian Opposition)
Ella Hitchman 18, from Gloucestershire Rocky Rockstar 11 year old gelding (by Rockland)
Emily King 18, from Devon Brookleigh

Walitze F Vejgard 12 year old gelding (by Rockwell)

10 year old mare (by Tannenhofs Conteur)
Katherine Lindsay 17, from Fife Cooley Ramiro 7 year old gelding (by Ramiro B)
Storm Straker 16, from North Yorkshire Well Designed 12 year old gelding (by Julio Mariner)
Harriet Upton 18, from West Sussex Carraig Dubh 14 year old gelding (by Gothland)
Anna Wilks 17, from Oxfordshire Touch of Pleasure 9 year old gelding (by Carnaval Pleasure)

The reserves are Tintin Belsham on Supreme Watts, Flora Lickiss on George and Libby Seed on What a Catch II.

Funding and Support

British Eventing is grateful to Racesafe for their continued sponsorship of both the Junior Team and the Junior programme.

In addition to supporting Equestrian Team GBR, the UK Sport funded World Class Programme also contributes to British Eventing Young Rider, Junior and Pony Teams, to help them prepare for the Championships and deliver medals.

British Eventing remains ever grateful for the absolute dedication and boundless energy that the HTSG put into raising funds which enable Britain to be represented at all youth levels of eventing. Visit www.htsg.co.uk for more information.