Charlotte Dujardin & Valegro rock and roll in Rotterdam

26 year old Charlotte Dujardin made her championship team debut count, taking the arena by storm with the nine year old Negro gelding Valegro co-owned by Carl Hester and Roly Luard. The pair rode a confident and polished test that belied their relative inexperience, sweeping them into the lead with a massive personal best of 78.830%.

“I’m over the moon and to score a PB is really special, especially with two extra judges sitting there to watch our every move!” said Charlotte. “After Hickstead we’ve been able to sharpen up a few things and come here ready to rock and roll. Blueberry [Valegro] is so brilliant in his mind, he wants to do it and learns so fast.  He grows out of mistakes he makes in weeks, problems that other horses would take a season to get over.”

“I’m so lucky to have Carl behind me; he’s made it all possible really – he’s so supportive and keeps me on the straight and narrow. I’ve just had fantastic opportunities and owe it all to the support of the people around me, Roly Luard, who half owns Blueberry, the Lottery funding behind us, and the whole World Class support team. It’s all incredible.”

Emile gets the Brits off to a flying start

On the first day of the Grand Prix Team competition Emile Faurie riding Joanne Vaughan’s Elmegardens Marquis led out as trailblazer for the Brits. He rode a cool, calm test with the 11 year old Michellino gelding to bank a reassuring 70.426%.

Commenting on the test Emile said:

“Really chuffed!” commented Emile “Max stayed relaxed and concentrated through the whole test. We had a small blip going into the arena where there’s a lot going on but as soon as I turned left I knew I had him with me. Everyone knows he is a hot, excitable horse but he has masses of talent. We’ve had a good season, both of us have come here well prepared and this has been our aim for the year.”

“Of course our ultimate goal is London but there are so many brilliant combinations in Britain we’re really going to have to go some to make the cut. We had to get a championships under our belt to even put ourselves in with a chance.”

“I knew I would be first to go for the team and that we had to get a solid base score on the board so I’m really proud of the horse for what he did today. I’m certain there is at least another 5% in him and his owner Joanne has always believed in him.”

Greetings from the land of orange!

I’ve arrived in the land of bicycles, cheese and all things orange for the start of a European Championship stint that will keep me out of the office for the next three weeks. First stop dressage and the beautiful wooded showground venue of Rotterdam. The main arena is already looking quite spectacular with a new purpose built permanent stand and its dressing of rearing topiary horses. Hopefully only the foliage will be leaving the floor!

As the showground builds around it so does the anticipation of what promises to be an exciting show. The British horses have arrived fit and well and last minute preparations and adjustments have all been made before the Grand Prix team competition begins tomorrow. The horse Inspection this afternoon went without hitch and I am pleased to report all the British horses passed; as usual they looked great thanks to the hard work of the grooms. 

The stage is set and the serious stuff starts tomorrow when all we can hope is that everyone performs to their best ability. Good luck guys.

Dickie Waygood is the chef d’equipe keeping everything running like clockwork – above Carl Hester has a small nap during team briefing earlier today.

View more behind the scenes photos from Rotterdam on the Team GBR Facebook page 

Yogi Breisner talks eventing

Less than a year out from the Games, we spoke to Eventing’s Performance Manager, Yogi Breisner, on how preparations are going:

"The preparation of the British Event Team leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games is on course.  We had a very good Test Event at the beginning of July where three riders had the opportunity to get to know the Greenwich venue by competing there.  Some other riders also had the opportunity to visit during the competition to get a feel for what we all think is a fantastic venue.  The management of the equestrian venue is doing a great job putting on what promises to be an exciting competition next year. 

At the moment the concentration is focusing on the European Championship at the end of August where we have a very experienced squad in William Fox-Pitt and Mary King, with Piggy French and Nicola Wilson both making their third consecutive appearances, and Polly Stockton making a comeback on to the squad after a few years off. We are also fortunate to be able to give Laura Collett her debut on the senior team which will give her senior Championship experience.

Miners Frolic, who unfortunately became ill during Badminton this spring, is making a good recovery but might not be able to get back to competitive action until early spring next year.  Redesigned, who made such a wonderful debut on the World Championship squad last year, is also getting back to full fitness and might well be seen competing again later on this year.

In equestrian sports where the horse is the main athlete things change very quickly when horses are injured or lose their form but, at the moment, we have some very nice horses in contention for next year's Olympic Games.  It has always been the aim to get as many of these horses, and riders, qualified this year for the Olympics and we are well on our way with this.  Once the autumn season has finished then it will be easier to make some further plans, and start putting together the final training and competition programmes for individual horses to build them up for the end of July next year".

For more information on the Olympic and Paralympic teams click here

Musings from the Emerald Isle

This is a very busy time of year!! 

I want to start by saying a big “bloody well done” to Hickstead and Family Bunn – they have invested a great deal of money in the Hickstead arena and their investment has paid off with wonderful going. I was lucky enough to have lunch with some representatives from Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) who are the company that have re-done the arena. It was fascinating to learn more about the science of growing grass and maintaining grass (no, no – not that happy sort, the green variety). I think many would agree that a good grass arena is the best arena for jumping that you can get.

So the Nations Cup at Hickstead did not go fully to plan but it was most certainly not a disaster. 4th was a very solid performance and yet again it was one rail that made the difference between GBR being 4th and jumping off for 1st. In all sport it is a game of small margins.

Hickstead also involves a great deal of walking.....between the Jumping end and the Dressage end. But oh mother of mary (am currently in Ireland) was it worth it; in all but the physical and emotional sense....Carl I love you. Carl Hester was sublime landing an 80%+ in the Grand Prix. Charlotte Dujardin once again demonstrated that she is just a little bit special. But it was Emma Hindle and the old warrior Lancet that brought a tear to many eyes – once again showing 70%+ plus form and reminding us of great times in Windsor at the Dressage Europeans. Emma could not be selected for the Europeans as Lancet was not qualified as at the Nominated Entries. Emma chose Hickstead to retire Lancet while he was still at the top of his game – a fitting tribute to a great horse and great rider. Emma will be focussing on the breeding now.......not equine for once....so good luck Emma.

This is also selection season....and the Selectors have been hard at work:

Eventing

• Laura Collett riding Mr Jason Houghton’s Rayef
• William Fox-Pitt riding the Hon. Mrs Teresa Stopford Sackville’s Cool Mountain
• Piggy French riding Mr Walter French and Mr Michael Underwood’s Jakata
• Mary King riding Miss Janette Chinn and Mr & Mrs Edwin Davies’s Imperial Cavalier
• Polly Stockton riding her own and Mr Arthur Comyn’s Westwood Poser
• Nicola Wilson riding Miss Rosemary Search’s Opposition Buzz

Dressage

• Laura Bechtolsheimer riding Dr Wilfried & Mrs Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s Mistral Hojris
• Charlotte Dujardin riding Mr Carl Hester’s Valegro 
• Emile Faurie riding Ms Joanne Vaughan’s Elmegardens Marquis
• Carl Hester riding Mrs Sasha Stewart’s Uthopia

Para-equestrian dressage

• Natasha Baker riding Mr & Mrs P Baker’s and Mr C Landolt’s Cabral
• Sophie Christiansen riding The Berkeley Group’s Rivaldo of Berkeley
• Deborah Criddle riding The Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Akilles
• Anne Dunham riding Mrs Sally Ann Brown’s Teddy
• Sophie Wells riding her own Valerius

It is great to have such a spread of experience – both equine and human.  This “spread” is, for me, the barometer by which to measure the core health of the disciplines......

The first question that I get asked is how many medals they will win.  So let us take eventing: if the Team is in first after dressage and then they all jump double clear within the time......guess what...they will win the Team Gold. The point is, one can look at statistics and look at what the riders have achieved recently but the great thing about equestrian is that there is always that element of unpredictability. Of course I expect / hope we will medals but.....nope...you get nothing in writing!

And so to the Emerald Isle. If you have not been to the Dublin Horse Show then add it to your buckets list. It has a unique atmosphere with every manifestation of an Irish bred pony / horse on display, being judged and....I am certain...for sale! The venue is right in the middle of Dublin and the whole of Ireland know when the Show is on..... “You’ll be here for the horse show...” is what usually greets you as you climb into a taxi.

The highlight is the Aga Khan Trophy....the FEI Nations Cup competition. The stands are packed....the Judges and Stewards are in Morning Dress...the gold trophy is front and centre in a packed President’s Box. GBR has a great record here....not the biggest course we have seen but technical and a proper course that did not frighten horses. 

At half time......GBR in 3rd....full time....thanks to three fantastic clears...GBR in joint first with Ireland. JUMP OFF; Nick Skelton V Billy Twomey. Easy, spot on, GBR win the Aga Khan. Fantastic; Robert Smith / Nick Skelton / Michael Whitaker / Scott Brash. Sweet. GBR guaranteed to stay in the FEI Nations Cup Series for 2012 – this was the primary target for 2011 and now we can focus on the Europeans.
 
Meanwhile the Under 21 Teams have been quitting themselves very well: 

Pony European Championships: Jaskowo, Poland (26-31 July)

• Showjumping Team Gold (Amy Inglis, Beth Vernon, Graham Babes, Jessica Mendoza)
• Showjumping Individual Gold (Beth Vernon)
• Showjumping Individual Bronze (Jessica Mendoza) 
• Eventing Team Bronze (Sophie Beaty, Janou Bleekman, Sam Ecroyd, Grace Walker)
• Eventing Individual Silver (Sam Ecroyd)

Young Rider, Junior and Children’s Showjumping European Championships: Comporta, Portugal (4-10 July)

• Young Rider Team Bronze (Jason Smith, Lucy Guild, George Whitaker, Dan Neilson)
• Children Team Bronze (Emily Ward, Charlotte Smet, Kerstin Deakin, Millie Allen)

It does sound as if there were some challenges for the Chefs in Poland (Pony Championships) whether it was ear muffs on or off (depending which Nation you were); or show jumps being pulled from a magicians hat; or mathematical errors leading to the GBR Dressage Pony Team being awarded the Bronze then having it taken off them. It is always a fine line between taking the sport to new places and taking the sport at Championship level to places where perhaps there are one too many cracks in the organisation. It also highlights the need to have team staff that not only know the sport but can also remain cool in a crisis;  I think of the Chefs (d’Equipe or de Mission) role as being a combination of Leadership and Management; there is a difference (in my book) but I will leave you to think that through.

It is therefore as much the role of the World Class Programme to prepare the Staff for 2012 as it is to prepare the riders / horses.  I am sure you will have come across PRIDE – Personal Responsibility in ?????? Excellence – perhaps over the next 12 months we, the support staff = Develop and the riders Deliver; a point for debate.

One of the challenges we face in World Class is the geographic spread of athletes (riders) – from Scotland to Cornwall and in mainland Europe. This can be a benefit for always having somewhere to stay in an emergency but a nightmare for staff trying to get around and visit riders in their home / training environments. We call these Home Visits (this name took a great deal of time to think up) and it is a corner stone of what we do. The aim is not only for the Programme coaches / vets / farriers to be able to work with the riders but also we hope that it can bring the Programme staff and the riders’ Home Team (their own farriers / vets / coaches etc) closer together and ensure all are working in the same direction.

I am going to take four days off to re-charge the batteries and then it is full steam ahead for the Dressage, then Eventing and then Para-Equestrian Dressage European Championships (a break then before Jumping Championships in Madrid) – three weeks on the road in Europe and the last Championships prior to the London 2012 Olympic Games – scary!!