Following a successful pre-European training camp last weekend, the British Dressage Young Rider and Junior Selectors, Andrea Smith, Leanne Wall and Nikki Herbert, are delighted name their riders on the NAF Young Rider, Junior and Children on Horses teams for the European Championships in Roosendaal, the Netherlands on 9 – 13 August 2017.
Chief Selector Andrea Smith commented; “We want to thank all the riders for showing such commitment to the squads. We appreciate how hard it is to juggle competing internationally with studies, exams and training. The Young Riders have been strong this season and competition for places was tough, while the Juniors are in a transitional year but the progress shown through the season has impressed. A huge thank you to our hosts this weekend for the camp, Sarah and Tony Pidgley from Kilbees Farm. Their kind hospitality and fabulous facilities are very much appreciated. Thanks also to our generous sponsors NAF who were on hand to help the riders on Sunday and to suppliers LeMieux for their support. We’re very much looking forward to the trip to the Netherlands.”
NAF Young Rider Team
Rebecca Edwards (20) from Reading, Berkshire with Sarah Oppenheimer’s Headmore Delegate (chestnut, gelding, 16.1hh, 14yrs, s. Dimaggio) with a direct reserve of Dr Margaret Cox’s Ufano II (grey, stallion, 15.2hh, 16yrs, s. Indeciso)
Charlotte Fry (21) from Scarborough, North Yorkshire with Anne van Olst and her own Dark Legend (dark bay, gelding, 17hh, 9yrs, s. Zucchero) with a direct reserve of Anne van Olst’s Everdale (black, stallion, 17.2hh, 8yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale)
Ellie McCarthy (20) from New Milton, Hampshire with Olivia Oakeley’s Donna Summer (chestnut, gelding, 16hh, 16yrs, s. Dimaggio)
Joanna Thurman-Baker (19) from Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire with Samantha Thurman-Baker’s Highcliffe Apollo (bay, gelding, 16.2hh, 15yrs, s. Der Lenz)
First reserve
Robyn Smith (21) from Jackton, East Kilbride with Gail Smith’s Foold Uz (bay, gelding, 16.1hh, 10yrs, s. Fulton)
Second reserve
Lauren Phillips (21) from Crow, Hampshire with her own Hot Chocolate (black, mare, 15.2hh, 9yrs, s. Hoffenstein)
NAF Junior Team
Emily Bradshaw (18) from Parkgate, Cheshire with Susan Bradshaw’s Remarkable (brown, gelding, 16hh, 19yrs, s. Royal Diamond)
Jade Ellery (18) from Los Cortijops, Spain with her own Porsches Eloy (chestnut, gelding, 16.2hh, 14yrs, s. Earl)
Abbie Newbury (18) from Chippenham, Wiltshire with Tessa Thorne’s Disneyland (liver chestnut, gelding, 16.1hh, 8yrs, s. Diamond Hit)
Maddy Whelan (14) from Hailey, Oxfordshire with Peta Claridge’s Monsieur Pomerol (bay, gelding, 16hh, 16yrs, s. Riccione)
Reserve
Emma Bond (16) from Sancton, North Yorkshire with her own Lime Walk (chestnut, gelding, 16.2hh, 15yrs, s. Limes)
NAF Children on Horses individual rider
Lily Payne (13) from Leverton, Lincolnshire with Anne Savage’s Beckhouse Cancara (black, mare, 15.1hh, 11yrs)
Lorna George, UK Sales Manager for NAF, who also looks after the NAF rider support programme, commented; “NAF is delighted to be supporting such a tremendous group of young riders over the three squads. Meeting them at the weekend was a pleasure and their dedication and determination was clear to see. We had some excellent discussions and have made plans for the next month around how NAF can help make sure their horses are in the best condition for the Championships. On behalf of everyone at NAF, I wish them the best of luck for Roosendaal.”
The riders will all travel to John Parker International Horse Transport headquarters in Kent on Sunday 6 August before setting off on their journey to Roosendaal in convoy.
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