News
Youth U21 European Championship Teams Announced
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Fri, 24 Jun 2022 16:00
The British Dressage Under 21 Selectors have completed the selection process for the 2022 FEI European Championships for Ponies, Juniors, Young Riders, and Children on Horses, and we are delighted to confirm which riders will be flying the flag for Great Britain at the three major continental fixtures this summer.
Following a successful spring campaign, which highlighted the great depth of talent within the BD Youth International Pathway squad, the British U21 Selectors are delighted to confirm that three complete teams have been selected at Nominated Entry stage to take part in the FEI Pony, Junior and Young Rider Championships, with individual representation at the Children on Horses Championships.
The FEI Junior and Young Rider European Championships will be the first to take centre stage, on home soil at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire on 25 – 31 July, followed by the FEI Pony European Championships at Strzegom on 03 – 07 August, with the FEI Children on Horses European Championships taking place at Pilisjászfalu in Hungary, on 24 – 28 August.
Selected combinations
Please note that these selections are for the purposes of Nominated Entries and the final team line-ups will be confirmed at Definite Entries stage for each of the age groups.
Children on Horses
Crystal Robinson-Long (14) from Westerham, Kent with her own Evita Ronia (dark bay mare, 2009, Westpoint x Oscar, KWPN).
Ponies
Mette Dahl (15) from Haywards Heath, West Sussex with Fiona Bigwood’s George Clooney BS (grey gelding, 2011, Caesar 171 x Santano, KWPN).
Sofia Games (14) from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire with Katie Oliver-Games’ Next Black Magic (black gelding, 2008, Nabucco R x FS Pour l’Amour, WESTF).
Myles Graham (15) from Swindon, Wiltshire with Caron Roberts’ Dresscode Cocktail (dun gelding, Top Carlos Cassini, WESTF). * Second preference
Ruby Hughes (14) from Southam, Warwickshire with Shirley Rixon’s Hilkens Showgirl (palomino mare, 2013, Dreidimensional x Champion De Luxe, WESTF). * First preference
First Reserve
Lauren Geraghty (16) from Derby, Derbyshire with her own WS Jackson (chestnut gelding, 2011, Chiskin Jaguar x His Highness, AES).
Second Reserve
Demi Howard-Cartwright (14) from Ascot, Berkshire with her own Fin C WE (chestnut gelding, 2003, Famos x Eiger III).
Juniors
India Durman-Mills (18) from Leicester, Leicestershire with Verity Saul’s Escade (bay gelding, 2009, Jazz, KWPN).
Myles Graham (15) from Swindon, Wiltshire with Caroline Bell’s Nibeley Union Hit (dark bay mare, 2007, Nibeley Union Jack x Sandro Hit, AES). * First preference
Annabella Pidgley (17) from Windsor, Berkshire with Sarah Pidgley’s Sultan des Paluds FRH (liver chestnut gelding, 2010, Soliman de Hus x De Niro, HANN).
Sophie Wallace (15) from Stroud, Gloucestershire with Laura Tomlinson and Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s Rosalie B (black mare, 2006, Rubin Royal x Newcastle. WESTF).
Direct Reserve
Annabella Pidgley with Sarah Pidgley’s Espe (bay mare, 2014, Escolar x Dimaggio, WESTF).
First Reserve
Isobel Lickley (17) from Albrighton, Staffordshire with Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Furstin Fugger (dark bay mare, 2011, Fürst Heinrich x Weltmeyer, WESTF).
Second Reserve
Ruby Hughes (14) from Southam, Warwickshire with Lucy Amy’s Extra Time P (dark bay gelding, 2009, Goodtimes, AES). * Second preference
Young Riders
Caitlin Burgess (21) from Berkeley, Gloucestershire with her own Chocotof (brown gelding, 2007, Lord Leatherdale, KWPN).
Anna Dalrymple (19) from Horsham, West Sussex with Maxine Vainio’s Vagabond de Massa (bay gelding, 2009, Reito x Xaquiro, LUSIT).
Maddy Frewin (19) from Yate, Bristol with Hannah Dovey's Eagle Nouvelle (bay gelding, 2009, Singapore, WBS).
Jessica McConkey (20) from Watlington, Oxfordshire with her own Lady Gaga (bay mare, 2009, Quaterback x Solos Landwind, DWB).
Direct Reserve
Jessica McConkey with her own Wilson Stensvang (black gelding, 2010, Wilkens x Blue Hors Don Schufro, DWB).
First Reserve
Lilah Gibbs (20) from London with her own Dude III (black gelding, 2011, Dancier x Rubinstein, HANN).
Myles Graham was qualified and has been selected for both the Pony and Juniors team, but at this stage it is intended that Myles will take up his position with the Junior team, and his inclusion in the Pony team selection is expressed as a second preference only, as he cannot compete in both age groups.
Upon definite entries and declaration of all competing riders for the Junior and Young Rider teams, Myles will be withdrawn from the Pony team and his position will be taken by the First Reserve, Lauren Geraghty. If, for any reason, his horse, Nibeley Union Hit, is unable to compete for the Junior team and is withdrawn prior to the Definite Entries deadline on Monday 11 July, Myles will still be eligible for the Pony team with Dresscode Cocktail.
The same principles apply with Ruby Hughes, who is selected for the Pony team, with a second preference expressed as second reserve in the Juniors.
BD International Director Judy Harvey commented; “The battle for places on our U21 teams for the FEI European Championships has been hard fought by all contenders. I am delighted that we have three really strong teams going forward to this year’s Championships. We also have one very promising combination heading to Hungary to contest the Children on Horses.
“The Young Riders and the Juniors will give us all plenty to get excited about at their Championships, and I urge you all to come along to Hartpury and support our home teams. The Pony team then head off to Poland, providing a fantastic opportunity for them to gain experience of representing their country abroad. They will have a full support team and those of us who cannot travel to Poland can send good vibes and follow their journey through the power of the internet.
“The learning opportunity and the benefits of a competitive championship experience will be of benefit to them all, laying the foundations for the future as they progress through our Youth structure and ultimately into Senior teams. I wish them all the best of luck and I am incredibly proud of them all.”
British Dressage congratulates all selected riders and their extended support network that underpins the Under 21 international squads, as well as all other short-listed combinations and those who represented Great Britain at the spring CDI fixtures.
All selected combinations will head to Hartpury College for a pre-European Championship training camp over the weekend of 2 – 3 July, before beginning final preparations for a busy summer of championships.
FEI U21 Dressage European Championships 2022 will take place as follows:
FEI Junior and Young Rider European Championships
Hartpury, Great Britain, 25 – 31 July
FEI Pony European Championships
Strzegom, Poland, 03 – 07 August
FEI Children on Horses European Championships
Budapest region – Pilisjászfalu, Hungary, 24 – 28 August
