TREC Riders Named For Europeans
Friday, July 21, 2006
TREC selectors have named 16 senior riders and five Young Riders from which British teams for this year's European Championships will be chosen.
The championships, being staged in this country for the first time, will be held on Exmoor in September. Although entries are still not complete, 14 of the 15 eligible nations are expected to take part.
British selectors met after the sport's national championships to come up with the two short lists, which include among the seniors, David Hay-Thorburn, from Scotland, who was World Champion in 2000 and Hilary Barnard, based in Bristol, who was runner up in the important European Cup league table last season.
Kate Ellison, individual Young Rider Gold medallist in 2003, is named for the Young Rider squad.
TREC is strongly supported on Exmoor, where the championships are to be held, and there will be jubilation amongst local supporters that Bridgwater rider Vanessa Warren is listed and only one step away from putting the Union flag on her saddle cloth.
The sport in this country is managed by the British Horse Society, and national organiser Rob Jones, said: "Despite the fact that we are responsible for the championships, I can't help being partisan and believe that Great Britain will have two very strong teams and an equally-strong individual entry. Medals of some sort and very possibly Gold are very much on the cards.
"Having these championships here has done a lot for TREC already. Support is growing at an even stronger rate than in the last few years."
British teams won Silver in 2001 and 2003 and the Young Riders team Bronze in 2003.
The Championships are supported by grants from Defra and the Sustainable Development Fund administered by the Exmoor National Park Authority, while Libbys, Plymouth-based manufacturer of webbing tack, is providing bridles for all 150 riders and supplying rosettes.
Young Riders:
- Kathryn Bean - Horse tbc
- Kate Ellison - Spice of Life
- Helen Paine - Flossi or Ruby
- Alex Wells - Toffee
- Julia Knight-Jones - Fleetmead Ross
Seniors:
- Hilary Barnard - Harvey OR Rhinefield Impulse
- Caroline Brammer - Rhuabon
- Julian Brown - Barney
- Alison Elmer - Bouncing Blottie
- Jennie Free - Samiracle
- David Hay-Thorburn Brenfield Mhairi
- Lorna Holden - Brenfield Bragi
- Madeleine Jacob - Taffechan Princess
- Anthea Kendrick - Jake
- Lynne Mabbitt - Spice of Life
- Deborah Swan - Henley's Rocket
- Paul Turner - Magic
- Vanessa Warren - Zara IX or Clarissa
- Mary Weston - Floss
- Anna Weston - Caspian The Wizard
- Deana Foulds - Thunder
