The British Dressage selectors (David Trott and Judy Harvey) have announced the riders who will represent Great Britain at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, 20th August – 3rd September 2006.
The British Dressage Team for the 2006 World Equestrian Games is constituted by:
- Laura Bechtolsheimer (Gloucestershire) riding Dr W Bechtolsheimer’s Douglas Dorsey
- Wayne Channon (Belgium) riding his own & Mrs D Channon’s Lorenzo CH
- Emma Hindle (Cheshire), riding Brookhouse Stud's Lancet
- Sandy Phillips (Gloucestershire) riding her own Lara.
- Reserves:
- Maria Eilberg (Worcestershire) riding Two Sox
- Ferdi Eilberg (Worcestershire) riding Teutone Z
- Emile Faurie (Oxfordshire) riding Rascher Hopes.
Chef d'Equipe: David Trott (BD Director of International and Chairman of Selectors)
Team Coach: Ferdi Eilberg
Team Vet: John McEwen.
Talking about the selection David Trott, the British Dressage Chairman of Selectors, said: “The team we’ve selected has experience and talent, and each of them have produced strong results in good company over the last 12 months. It is a credit to the growing depth of British dressage at this top level that we have had the chance to select a team with high hopes of being in the medal zone, despite having some top horses side-lined through minor injuries.”
Making her debut on a senior championship team, 21 year old Laura Bechtolsheimer has had a whirlwind year which has included becoming the youngest British National Champion and competing in the World Cup in Amsterdam, scoring over 73% in the final with Douglas Dorsey. Laura has competed Douglas Dorsey internationally nine times in the last year, scoring over 71% in the Grand Prix at Bremen and over 76% in the Grand Prix Kür.
Wayne Channon took up dressage in 1991 and since 2003 has regularly competed internationally, moving to be based full time in Belgium at the end of 2004. Wayne and Lorenzo competed at Lipica CDI-W earlier this month, winning both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Kür with scores of 70.12% and 75.00% respectively.
Emma Hindle was a member of the bronze medal winning European Championship team in 2003, the Athens Olympic team and the European Championship team in 2005. In the last six months Emma has competed former Dutch team horse, Lancet, in seven international competitions, scoring 73.25% in the World Cup qualifier at Olympia, and 70.75% to win the Grand Prix at Stadl Paura CDI in April.
Until recently a member of the selection committee, Sandy Phillips competed in three previous World Equestrian Games, one Olympic Games and a European Championships. Sandy has owned Lara for three years, competing her internationally at Grand Prix for the first time in 2005. Sandy and Lara were in action last weekend at Rotterdam CHIO, finishing in third place in the Grand Prix Special behind Anky van Grunsven and Isabell Werth, with a score of 69.48%.
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Emma Hindle will take part in Hartpury CDI 5 – 7th July, Wayne Channon is next scheduled to compete at Vierzon in France 13-16th July and will be competing at Hickstead CDIO 26 – 30th July alongside team-mates Sandy Phillips and Lara .
The Dressage Competition at the World Equestrian Games
The Grand Prix will be split into two sections, the first running on Tuesday 22nd August and the second on Wednesday 23rd. The three highest scores from each country will decide the team medals.
The top 30 individuals will go forward to ride in the Grand Prix Special to be held on Friday 25th August. All four team riders may compete in the GPS. Individual medals will be awarded for the Grand Prix Special.
The top 15 competitors from the Grand Prix Special will qualify to start in the Grand Prix Kür on Saturday 26thAugust. Only three riders from any one Nation may compete in the GP Kür. Individual medals will also be awarded for the winners of the Grand Prix Kür.
Qualification for Beijing 2008
The top three teams at the World Equestrian Games 2006 will qualify to take part in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Three further qualification places will be available for Western European League countries at the European Championships 2007.
The British Dressage Team would like to thank the team sponsors, Toggi, Meriel Animal Health, Natural Animal Feeds, Spillers Speciality Feeds, Thermatex Rugs and other suppliers, supporters and owners. They would also like to thank UK Sport for the support provided through the lottery funded World Class Performance Plan.
Photos copyrighted: Astrid Appels / Eurodressage
Back to the 2006 WEG index