Team manager David Hunter today announced the British quartet to contest the team competition at the Para-Equestrian Dressage European Championships CPEDI**** in Moorsele, Belgium. They are: grade Ia riders Anne Dunham with Teddy and Emma Sheardown with Purdy’s Dream, grade III rider Deb Criddle with LJT Akilles and grade IV rider Sophie Wells with Valerius.
Reserve rider Emma Sheardown and Purdy’s Dream step up to take the place of Sophie Christiansen, unfortunately forced to withdraw from the competition after her horse, Rivaldo of Berkeley, sustained a minor injury. Emma was part of the para-equestrian dressage squad selected to compete at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, where she won individual freestyle gold and an individual bronze medal in the dressage grade Ia competitions. This will be a second European Championship appearance for Emma but her first call-up for the team.
Natasha Baker with Cabral will compete as an individual in the grade II section.
“It’s great to see Deb Criddle back on the team with a new horse,” said World Class Performance Director, Will Connell. “Sophie Wells also brings a new horse to championship level - the up-and-coming Valerius as Pinocchio, the horse she won gold with at the World Equestrian Games last year, contested the able bodied Young Rider European Championships in Denmark this summer. With Natasha Baker making her debut to the squad we have some exciting but as yet unproven talent at this level. The Europeans this year are very much about developing our squad and building strength and depth ahead of London 2012.”
All five riders will compete for individual and freestyle medals with the timetable scheduled as follows.
Grade 1a: Anne Dunham with Teddy and Emma Sheardown with Purdy's Dream
Grade II: Natasha Baker with Cabral (individual)
Grade III: Deb Criddle with LJT Akilles
Grade IV: Sophie Wells with Valerius
After today’s trot up all of the horses have been passed by the vet to go forward to the competition.
PROGRAMME
Friday 2 September
- Team test FEI
- Indoor 7.30 BST: grade III
10.45 BST: grade 1a
14.00 BST: grade Ib
- Outdoor 8.00 BST: grade IV
13.00 BST: grade II
Saturday 3 September
- Individual test FEI
- Indoor 7.30 BST: grade Ia
9.30 BST: grade Ib
13.00 BST: grade III
- Outdoor 8.00 BST: grade II
13.00 BST: grade IV
Sunday 4 September
- Freestyle FEI
- Indoor 7.30 BST: grade Ib
9.45 BST: grade Ia
13.00 BST: grade III
- Outdoor 8.00 BST: grade II
12.00 BST: grade IV
> More info and results from the Championships website