Great Britain Eventing Squad Announced for the 2014 World Equestrian Games
The British Eventing senior selectors announced the UK Sport National Lottery funded Great Britain squad to contest the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France (23 August – 7 September, with the eventing competition running 28–31 August 2014).
The selected squad representing Great Britain comprised, in alphabetical order:
- Tina Cook (43) from Worthing, West Sussex, with Mr Jim Chromiak and her own De Novo News
- William Fox-Pitt (45) from Sturminster Newton, Dorset, with Mr Christopher Stones’ Chilli Morning
- Pippa Funnell MBE (45) from Dorking, Surrey, with Mr Jonathan and Mrs Jane Clarke’s Billy Beware
- Zara Phillips MBE (33) from Stroud, Gloucestershire, with Gleadhill House Stud Ltd’s High Kingdom
- Izzy Taylor (31) from Banbury, Oxfordshire, with Ms Frances Carter and Miss Susan Holroyd’s Allercombe Ellie
- Oliver Townend (31) from Ellesmere, Shropshire, with Miss Karyn Shuter’s Black Tie II
A Focus on Olympic Qualification
Eventing Chef d’Equipe Yogi Breisner commented: “As always, it’s a very exciting time once the squad has been selected for a championship. The main aim this year is Olympic qualification, while being as competitive as possible – I think we have the right squad to achieve that.”
Chef de Mission Will Connell added: “The 2014 World Equestrian Games represents the first of only two opportunities for GBR to qualify a team by right for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Achieving this qualification is the primary objective of the selection policy, and we head to WEG with the expertise and talent to achieve it, with a team that has demonstrable medal-winning experience. Results this spring show there are many nations in the hunt for medals, and that Britain is certainly one of those.”
The Riders React
Tina Cook said she was thrilled to be selected, especially on a home-bred horse she regarded as a superstar, and praised her long-standing owner Jim Chromiak. She noted that De Novo News, at eleven years old, had already completed three four-star events with a ninth place at Burghley, and described him as a big, scopey and adaptable horse.
William Fox-Pitt said it was always an honour to secure a place on the team, calling the squad strong and expressing hope of a good result and Rio qualification. He noted it was his fourth WEG, after Aachen, Jerez and Kentucky, and described representing his country as a privilege.
Pippa Funnell said it was a special thrill for everyone at The Billy Stud, as Billy Beware was the first Billy Stud horse selected for the British senior eventing squad. She thanked owners Jonathan and Jane Clarke and spoke of how much she had missed the camaraderie of the team. She also recalled the late Bridget Stack, who had named the horse and predicted he would be very special.
Zara Phillips said it was fantastic to be part of a team again and that High Kingdom had improved year on year. She paid tribute to owner Trevor Hemmings’s long support. Izzy Taylor said she felt she had made a personal step up to another championship and was pleased to be riding Allercombe Ellie, who had been bred by co-owner Susan Holroyd.
Oliver Townend said his call-up came as a nice surprise after Black Tie II exceeded expectations in finishing fourth on his first CCI4* at Luhmühlen. He praised owner Karyn Shuter, who had bought the horse through an advert in New Zealand years earlier, and described him as a good-natured, talented horse with a fantastic brain.
In the competition, all riders compete as individuals, with the four team riders confirmed after the trot-up; the results of the two riders competing solely as individuals carry no weighting on the overall team score. The British teams were supported by the UK Sport Lottery funded World Class Programme and by official Team GBR suppliers including Dodson & Horrell, Land Rover, Mears Country Jackets, NAF, Nuumed, Point Two Equine, Tagg Equestrian and Toggi.