Riders who compete in International Teams as Young Riders can automatically apply to the Senior Squad but are welcome to join the SDS for support with new horses if they wish. The same applies to Adult Riders who have previously competed successfully for International Teams.
Please send full details of yourself, horse and a copy of your horse’s mastercard to date to Chair of Selectors - Cathy Brown ( address in egb file ). or for more information please contact Development Squad Team Manager - Andrea Baker 01252 820815 ( eves)
Senior Development Squad Update – June 2008
Congratulations to Jill Kent and Bitterwell Spirit – following a successful ride in Sangatte in April and 160k FEI 3* completed at The Dukeries ride recently – Jill and Spirit have now moved up to the Senior Squad.
Rachel Atkinson- Vanash and Sue Box – Ryu from the 2007 Squad have also been offered the move up to seniors pending their 160k FEI 3* completion.
Helen Barrett – Olive Medina , Felicity Edmeston – Floriferouz, Lorna Kidson – French Lieutenant, and Annette Masterson – El Sabio, have all completed the international ride experience qualification and are now working to ride plans leading them towards their 160km FEI 3* ride, all are still being assessed and guided where required by the SDS management team.
Potential SDS members, Tanya Manser – Magical Sprit, Lesley-Ann Parker – Velvet Echo and Caroline Cherry – Paramal have all completed 2 x ER’s and are now qualified as full members of the development squad.
We are currently speaking to a number of advanced level riders who are keen to explore the idea of international rides. These riders are currently working towards completion of their ER’s to become members of the squad. If any other advanced level riders are interested in talking to us, please email Squad Chef – Andrea Baker
The following riders are qualified and are full members of the squad having already completed a min 2 x ER’s.
- Helen Barrett - Olive Medina
- Felicity Edmeston – Floriferouz
- Lorna Kidson - French Lieutenant
- Sharon Parr Rumilito de la Boulen
- Annette Masterson El Sabio
- Tanya Manser Magical Sprit,
- Lesley-Ann Parker Velvet Echo
- Caroline Cherry Paramal
SENIOR DEVELOPMENT SQUAD UPDATE 20/4/2008
Sangatte FEI2* 119km
The Senior Development Squad have just arrived home safely after their trip to compete abroad at the Sangatte ride near Calais. The Team were in good form and were fortunate to have travelled on Wednesday as horses were not allowed on the ferries later in the week because of strong winds and high seas. The UAE riders entered were unable to get across in time. There were a strong contingent of French riders many of whom I recognised from the front group who battled it out with Chris Yeoman last year, there were also riders from Belgium. Our Team acquitted themselves well and they were complemented on their turn-out at the pre-ride vetting.
The weather was damp and cool with quite a nasty wind so crews had to be careful not to let the horses chill. All vetted sound pre-ride so they set off in good spirits. Sadly after a very fast run 1st loop Lorna Kidson and French Lieutenant were spun at the 1st VG. The other four continued and Annette Masterson on the big bay El Sabio and Jill Kent on Bitterwell Spirit were well up with the leaders, by VG2 the field had spread out and Flick Edmeston and Floriferouz were tucked in behind a group of young French riders who moved steadily through the field. Helen Barrett and Olive Medina found this loop quite tough and by VG3 had tailed off a bit, sadly they were spun at the re-present. El Sabio needed fast Farriery at VG3 and Annette sensibly waited to have a shoe re-done giving up her 2nd place at this stage to Jill & Spirit to 'get it right'. Andrea's Tim had stepped into the breach when the Team Farrier was unable to travel and was an integral part of El Sabios success. Floriferouz picked up really well at VG3 and skipped off to do a good last loop coming in 11th. A great battle developed in the last loop where the second pack of French riders who had improved steadily during the day, all riding together, set off in pursuit of our riders. There was a very exciting racing finish on the beach after Annette had caught up with Jill and the pack all arrived on the beach together. Annette and El Sabio came 5th with Jill and Bitterwell Spirit a close 6th. Congratulations to the riders and Management Team for a very good learning experience. Jo Woodman, Pippa and Andrea worked really hard over the few days of the trip and the Team came together well by ride day. Well done all.
There is an excellent report of the whole ride now on the EnduranceEurope website www.enduranceeurope.net/international/France/2008Sangatte which contains the article written by Nicky Freud and Richard who were at the ride.
SENIOR DEVELOPMENT SQUAD UPDATE 23/3/2008
9 members of the Senior Development Squad took part in the 80k ER at Harling Drove ride on 16th March. For some squad members it was their first ER towards full membership of the squad and for those qualified horse and rider combinations who were hoping to travel with the squad to Sangatte FEI 2* ride on 18th April, it was their final selection and assessment ride .
Following this ride, the following horse/rides have been invited to travel with the squad to France.
- Jill Kent – Bitterwell Spirit
- Helen Barrett – Olive Medina
- Felicity Edmeston – Floriferouz
- Lorna Kidson - Mystic Dream or French Lieutenant
- Sharon Parr – Rumilito de la Boulen
- Annette Masterson – El Sabio
These horses are now in the finals stages of their preparation for the trip abroad, under the guidance of Squad Management. We wish the riders well in the weeks leading up to the event and look forward to seeing all the horses and riders fit and ready to tackle the ride, when we meet at Dover .
Many thanks to the ride organiser of Harling – Di Luke and sponsor David Marlin for putting on such an early ER for us to assist with our preparations for Sangatte.
Good luck to squad members who are tackling their second ER at Haywood Oaks or Berks Downs.
Andrea Baker –Chef d’Equipe.
Training Update 7/2/2008:
Following on from our training and assessment day at Hornshill Farm in November 2007, The Senior Development squad met again on 3rd Feb at Cliff Hatch Stables courtesy of our hosts John and Denise Passant.
The facilities of the Riding School were made available to the squad during the afternoon. Jo Woodman – team vet , Pippa Windle-Baker – team Physio , Steve Golding – team farrier and Denise Passant – team trainer – put Squad members through their paces which included full assessments, ridden instruction, trot-up technique and riders using the running treadmill in the gym!. After all this – we retired to the warmth of the training room and discussed vet-gate planning and procedure and forthcoming rides at Harling and the team trip to France.
The squad will next be competing in the 80k ER at Harling ride on 16th March and from this we hope to take a squad of 5/6 qualified riders to the Sangatte FEI 2* ride in mid-April.
Other advance level riders on the ‘potential’ squad list will be using Harling as one of their qualifier rides and going on to compete in other ER’s in the early/mid EGB season.
