The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) and British Eventing are very pleased to announce that Mr Philip Surl will be joining the UK Sport, Lottery funded BEF World Class Programme as Assistant to the Eventing Performance Manager, Yogi Breisner. The role will see Philip eventually taking on the running of the World Class Programme’s Eventing Equine Pathway and the Eventing Nations Cup Squad that will campaign the FEI’s new CICO3* series. Philip will also take on certain administrative, logistical and liaison roles. The appointment of Philip will allow Yogi to focus more time on the Performance Programme riders but the next few months is very much a transitional period and the role is a consultant’s role and not ‘full time’.
Philip is currently British Eventing’s Regional Co-ordinator for the East Region. Philip will continue in this role for the foreseeable future although there will have to be small amount of re-allocation of Philip’s Technical Advisor commitments.
Philip is a UKCC Level 3 qualified coach and completed the coach development programme run by Yogi Breisner from 2005 – 2008. As an eventing rider he competed up to 4* level. Philip is married to Claire and has two children.
Philip Surl commented; “It is a privilege and very exciting to have the opportunity to work closely with someone as successful and as experienced as Yogi Breisner. The next few weeks will be very interesting and challenging as I get to better understand my new role. I remain fully committed to my Regional Co-ordinator role although there will be some reduction to other commitments outside the World Class and British Eventing roles.”
Will Connell, Performance Director said; “I have known Philip for many years and he has worked very hard to develop his coaching and management skills since ‘hanging up his boots’. It is an exciting time as we seek to expand the work of the World Class Programme and I know Philip will bring new skills and energy to the Programme and he will be a great asset to Yogi.”
Mike Etherington-Smith, Chief Executive British Eventing commented; “Philip has been a very successful Regional Co-ordinator and I am thrilled that he has secured this new role and challenge. We have looked very carefully at how the next few months will unfold and are comfortable that Philip will be able to continue to fulfil his role as RC and support the Organisers and Field Staff in the meticulous way that he has to date. We shall of course review Philip’s workload as he becomes more engrained in his new role.”
Yogi Breisner, Eventing Performance Manager commented; “I have worked closely with Philip through the coach development work he has undertaken and knew him well when he was competing. He will be a talented addition to the Programme and I look forward to working with him over the coming months. The CICO Squad that will compete in the Nations Cup competitions will be great proving ground for riders pushing for senior selection and will broaden the reach of the World Class Programme. The Equine Pathway is a well established Programme, with the coaching sessions oversubscribed; we are however always looking at how we can improve and refine the support we provide.”
The Equestrian World Class Programme has been funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, through Exchequer and National Lottery funds, via UK Sport since 1998.