From Lec:
The team selections for me were a mixture of the expected, surprise and disbelief. I am not a GB selector so have no idea behind their reasoning and nor is it my place to question their decisions but I thought I would have a quick look in detail at the selections.
The GB selectors have always name their teams early they make a decision and tend to stick with it. Apparently this means riders have more time to prepare and can do things the way they want to in the run up to such a major competition. One of the things that has made Yogi Breisner so successful in his management of the British team is the way he leaves riders to work on their horses without interference as they know the horses best.
This years team is:
Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz:
I have mentioned this pair so much that they need no introduction. They are sublime to watch and its very exciting that their dressage is on the up. They are in such form and have proven themselves so reliable in the past as pathfinders that they could not be left off.
Mary King – Imperial Cavalier
Unfortunately a foot issue kept Imperial Cavalier away from Barbury but he is now a solid team horse and has completed several 4* within the top 5 placings. His one weakness is the show jumping. Its good but he is often liable to have one fence down. They are not a surprise to have been selected.
William Fox Pitt – Cool Mountain
I think if anyone asked William last year which horse he would be taking to WEG it would not have been this one! Machiatto, Seacookie and Idalgo looked like much stronger candidates but unfortunately they have all fallen by the wayside and Cool Mountain has done nothing wrong. I know many of you who watched Rolex were not hugely impressed with this horse and I watched him carefully at Barbury but he just looks like he is not putting that much effort in! He is a big horse who really covers the ground and I think he is just supremely talented but without some of the personality sparkle we are used to seeing that shouts LOOK AT ME that many of the worlds best have! Seacookie was my choice but his run out at Barbury put paid to his chances and Cool Mountain went very well.
Tina Cook – Miners Frolic
This pair are not a surprise as they have amazing previous form. The horse has not gone that well this year by his normal exceedingly high standards but I am not going to bet against a Olympic Bronze Medallist, European Champion and placed in the top 10 at 9 CCI/CIC 3* & 4*. I still have not heard why he was withdrawn from Barbury but guessing there was a small issue that will be easily overcome. I think they will be fine at WEG.
Pippa Funnell – Redesigned
Now this was a surprise for me. I thought they would be reserves. Pippa is a very good jockey. She fits will into the team being very good friends with William and Tina and she has lots of experience. I take this quote from the British Eventing press release:
‘Pippa Funnell commented on her selection: “I am just completely speechless; if anyone had told me six months ago, I never would have believed them! Though the horse is young, he has always impressed me and his owners who are of course equally delighted that he has been selected.
I think it sounds like Pippa was as surprised as the rest of us! I thought this horse needed another year just to truly show what he can do at 4* but the selectors obviously think that he will do well. My only observation would be that he has only completed one CCI3* which he won and though Bramham was very big I did not hear about it being overly technical for the level. The horse went very well at Barbury and I know that Pippa has always thought very highly of him. They were the surprise for me.
Piggy French – Jakata
Who is this horse? I had not even heard of him until the team selections were announced. I had to actually go and look up his record! I think I am pretty switched on as an eventing geek but this one has slipped by me. Jakata is an 12yo by the top show jumper Abdullah. His record with Piggy is consistent but he has only done one CCI and one CIC 3* with her and the CIC3* at Houghton which they did was not a world class competition with some very average horses taking part.
Here is his record: http://www.britisheventing.
What I will say is that Piggy is a hugely talented jockey and has a proven track record of turning horses around who have previously reached 3* but without looking top class. Her silver medal at the Europeans was achieved on a horse who had been there and got the t.shirt without looking like being a top class horse until Piggy came along.
The reserves are all names we know well in Lucy Weigersma, Daisy Berkely, Oliver Townend and Sharon Hunt.
I have to say I feel hugely disappointed for them especially Lucy Weigersma who has only done good things with that horse apart from one blip at Badminton where he had actually gone really well to that point. I do not understand the logic of picking horses who have done well at 3* over horses who have done well at 4*. It makes a mockery of bothering to have 4* competitions in this country as they are supposed to be training grounds for Olympic games and this was how Badminton came about. The reserves this year have either won or been placed within the top 5 at 4*. Daisy Berkeley I had heard a while ago was not going to be selected as the horse is now 18. Personally I think she deserves to win a big 4* on him as he is just wonderful.Ollie Townend will live to fight another day on Ashdale Cruise Master despite all his efforts. I feel a bit sorry for him as he could not have done any more. Sharon Hunt unfortunately will always be fighting to overcome the Badminton last year when Tankers Town eliminated himself in the start box. I am very pleased they won at Luhmuhlen as they deserved a big win.
