Harry Meade and Wild Lone at Badminton. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Harry Meade and Wild Lone and Nicola Wilson and Annie Clover have been named to the British World Equestrian Games Squad following the withdrawal of Izzy Taylor and Allercombe Ellie and Pippa Funnell and Billy Beware, Team GBR announced in a press release.
The British squad is now comprised of Tina Cook and De Novo News, William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning, Harry Meade and Wild Lone, Zara Phillips and High Kingdom, Oliver Townend and Black Tie II, and Nicola Wilson and Annie Clover.
Izzy withdrew Allercombe Ellie after a “setback in training,” while Pippa was forced to withdraw Billy Beware due to lameness issue, and Harry Meade expressed his disappointment for them: “I really feel for both Izzy and Pippa who must be so disappointed; it’s never nice to gain from a situation where others miss out.”
Fans decried Harry’s absence from the squad after finishing in third place at Badminton with Wild Lone despite breaking and dislocating both his elbows mere months earlier in a rotational fall.
“It has been a rollercoaster of a year for me and my support team,” Harry said. “Whilst incapacitated over the winter, the thought of competing at WEG this year couldn’t have been further from my mind.”
Nicola finds herself back on a British championship team despite retiring her upper-level partner Opposition Buzz earlier this year, and, like Harry, she said it’s also bittersweet to make the squad due to a withdrawal.
“I was devastated to hear about both Izzy and Pippa having to withdraw their horses from the squad,” she said. “The build up to WEG this year really has been so difficult for everyone involved with the team.”
Nicola’s parents, Mary and Barry Tweddle, bought Annie Clover as a 4 year old, and Nicola brought her through the levels, so she said she’s thrilled to be able to have the mare compete at WEG.
“She has always appeared to be a cool customer under pressure and takes each level in her stride, so I am sure she will give her all at WEG, as will I,” Nicola said. “I am especially thrilled for my mum and dad who are the owners of Annie, they have been so influential and supportive throughout my career.”
