British Dressage announced the riders that have been selected for the 2005 World Class Start and Potential Dressage programmes. The riders were selected following trials that took place on January 22nd & 23rd in the United Kingdom.
Former American Olympic dressage rider Christine Traurig and German dressage rider Martin Stamkotter were the chief selectors. Both Traurig and Stamkotter are based in Voerde, Germany, where they work and train with Johann Hinnemann. Their recommendation was taken into consideration for the selection of the following riders:
Start Programme
- World Class Gold Level: Anne-Marie Perry and Henry Boswell
- World Class Silver Level: Emily Cousins and Joanna James
- World Class Bronze Level: Natalie Allen
Potential Programme
- World Class Gold Level: Laura Bechtolsheimer, Maria Eilberg, Andrew Gould, Sarah Millis and Spencer Wilton
- World Class Silver Level: Jodie Lister, Becky Moody and Darryl Thickitt
A similar Start and Potential programme has been set up for the British Paralympic dressage riders.
With a new change of format that had been adapted from previous years, ‘viewing days’, were held in both programme disciplines, that enabled riders to have the opportunity of demonstrating their skills ‘in the flesh’ in front of a selection panel.
From approx 100 dressage applications, 40 were invited to attend the ‘viewing day’, from which 9 riders were short listed to attend the ridden selection trials, along with the current 15-squad riders. In total, 5 riders were chosen to join the Dressage Start programme and 8 riders for the Dressage Potential programme.
The Paralympic Dressage ‘Viewing Days’ were run in conjunction with the Paralympic Talent Spotting days that were held at Moreton Morrell College. 8 riders were short-listed to attend the final selection trials, along with the 11 current squad riders. In total, 8 riders were chosen to join the Paralympic Dressage Start programme and 4 riders for the Paralympic Dressage Potential programme.
A small number of younger riders in both disciplines have been selected onto a peripheral programme, where they will be invited forwards to attend a couple of squad sessions in the year to introduce them to the World Class system and services it can offer.
WCS&P has modified its funding structure to a tiered system incorporating Gold, Silver and Bronze levels within each of the Start and the Potential programmes. Whilst all riders on the scheme will have the same World Class benefits, the level of individual funding will vary between the levels. These levels are primarily set on the rider’s performance at the selection trials, although movement between the levels (up and down) may be possible throughout the year.
The British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Start & Potential programme is for riders between the ages of 14 and 30 who demonstrate the exceptional talent and dedication to ride and win at Olympic level in Dressage, Paralympic Dressage, Show Jumping or Eventing and which establishes a development pathway for these riders to progress onto the Olympic Performance squads in 2008 and 2012.
The selected riders will be offered extra assistance in the form of individually tailored plans as well as opportunities to train with International riders and coaches in order to help them in their competitive careers.
Vikki Underwood, World Class Start & Potential Manager said, “The concept of the ‘viewing days’ has proved a success and the standard of the short-listed riders was incredibly high”.
Underwood continues, “A number of riders who were part of the 2004 programme have been re-selected, which highlights that the structure and training offered by World Class is successful and effective, but excitingly, some new faces have appeared indicating that the selection process continues to be consistent and fair”.
It is envisaged that this will be the final time that selection trials of this nature will need to be held for entry onto the scheme, as the programme moves to a four year cycle that will be governed by quarterly evaluations and talent ID.
The World Class Start and Potential programmes are Lottery funded through Sport England.
Additional support will be offered to the following riders: -
Dressage - Start
Natalie Bushell
Keri Bates
Melissa Beer
Samantha Harrison
Portia Manning
Georgina Roberts
Alice Thompson
Photo copyrighted: Astrid Appels/Eurodressage
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