June 2008
KBIS Qualifier, Hartpury, 1st June
We traveled all the way to Hartpury for the first of the KBIS qualifiers of 2008. It's a long way from Yorkshire but the facilities are excellent and all the staff are very helpful and friendly so it is worth the effort.
I was glad I had made the journey as in the end there was just myself and Holly Neill in the Grade III, so I managed to win with a score of 67.69%. The numbers in all classes very very low, except for in grade IV, where Philippa Bishop triumphed over 6 other horse and rider combinations to win with 68.92%.
GB Paralympic Team Final Trials at Hickstead
The final selection trials for the GB Paralympic team took place on June 8th & 9th at Hickstead. The results will certainly have given the selectors something to think about as the marks were very tight - particularly in Grade II.
As GB have been awarded extra places for both a Grade Ia and Ib rider, I would expect that the top two in these grades will now have secured their places - namely, Sophie, Anne, Lee and Ricky, but who will be chosen for the final 3 places?
Before Hickstead I would have said Nic Tustain, Felicity Coulthard, Simon Laurens and Deb Criddle were the 4 in the running for the 3 places, but Jo Pitt's results over the last couple of days compare well with her Grade II rivals. And then Sophie Wells convincingly won both Grade IV classes on Touchdown II.
Really though, I would imagine the selectors will go for some of the more experienced combinations for such a major championship but we will have to wait and see - the squad will be announced on, or soon after, 16th June.
Full results from the GB Para Trials at Hickstead.
GB Announce Paralympic Squad
The 7 riders chosen to represent GB at the 2008 Paralympics are as follows:
Grade Ia
Sophie Christiansen riding Lambrusco III
Anne Dunham riding Teddy Edwards
Grade Ib
Ricky Balshaw riding Deacon's Giorgi
Lee Pearson riding Gentleman
Grade II
Felicity Coulthard riding Roffelaar
Grade III
Deborah Criddle riding her own Pavaroti
Simon Laurens riding Ocean Diamond
Congratulations to those that have been selected, and commiserations to those who haven't made it this time. Four of the above riders will be chosen to represent GB in their bid to retain 'Team Gold', and the three remaining riders will compete as individuals.
Reserves (rider/horse)
Joanne Pitt riding Estralita
Nicola Tustain riding Rivaldo
Sophie Wells riding Touchdown II
Reserve Horses
The Para Dressage Training Trust's Nairobi
John Gamlin's Ocean Don Jon
Kristiansand CPEDI4*, Norway
Here are the results from the CPEDI4* competition in Kristiansand, Norway. We had planned to attend this competition but we had to pull out as it was going to be too expensive to get there. Next year the European Championships will take place in Kristiansand so hopefully I will get chance to go there in 2009.
Bischwiller FEI CPEDI2*, France
Here are the results from the International para equestrian competition in Bischwiller, France on 20 - 22 June 2008. Riders from France GB, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Italy and the Czech Republic took part, with France winning the team competition by a small margin from GB.