One year to go - Horse Talk Forum - Equine Online

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27-Jul-11 01:53 PM
The countdown is on to the biggest sporting show on earth. With just one year to go before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, British equestrian sports are gearing up for an intense 12 months of competition, planning and preparation. World Class athletes and horses from the four disciplines will need to be primed to deliver to the very best of their ability if they are to take on - and beat - the rest of the world.

The wheels are already in motion, according to Equestrian Performance Director Will Connell, who says: ?May through to July is perhaps the most intensive period of competition that we have in equestrian sport and it leads on to the European Championships. We have had some very exciting results this year across all the disciplines, which bodes well for the future. However, with horses, things can change very quickly and our focus for this year is to build as much strength as possible ahead of London 2012.?

The World Class Programme, which supports the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian sports, is generously supported by Lottery and Exchequer funding via UK Sport. The Programme works closely with the three BEF Olympic Member Bodies, British Dressage, British Eventing and British Showjumping.

Britain?s dressage riders are likely to be strong candidates for Olympic medals having won three silver medals at last year?s World Equestrian Games. Dressage Team Captain Richard Davison says: ?Our focus is on increasing the numbers of potential Olympic athletes in the squad and strengthening their performance. The performance squad have identified themselves as having Olympic potential on their past results and what we?re doing now is planning, so that the horses peak at the optimum time for the Games. For some, this will include the upcoming European Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands from 18-21 August, while for others this may include CDI3* competitions this autumn.?

Britain?s Para Equestrian Dressage riders enjoyed a gold rush at the Hong Kong Olympics, taking home three gold medals. David Hunter, their World Class Performance Manager, believes Team GB can repeat its performance.

?We will go to the European Championships in Moorsele, Belgium from 1-4 September with a good, strong team and more strong candidates in reserve. We?re in a healthy position but other nations are champing at the bit. The last year before the Games is always the most difficult, trying to ensure both horse and rider stay injury free, but it?s an exciting time.?

The equestrian events will kick off in Greenwich Park in 12 months? time with the Eventing competition, which starts on 28 July; Dressage begins on 2 August, followed by the Jumping on 4 August. The Para Equestrian Dressage will start on 30 August.

Source: http://www.equineonline.net/horseforum/dressage-news/22825-one-year-go.html

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