Following the final Pony Trial at Barbury Castle International Horse Trials on Friday, BE are pleased to announce the final squad of six plus two reserves who will represent Britain on the Charles Owen British Pony Team at this year’s 2015 FEI Pony European Championships at Malmö, (Sweden, 5-9 August 2015). Well done to those riders selected from our region, they are highlighted below.
Each year the Pony European Championships are held for riders between the year of their 14th and 16th Birthday riding ponies between 142cm and 148cm (14hh – 14.2hh); this year Britain will be defending double silver after their success in 2014 at Millstreet, Ireland.
The full Charles Owen British Pony squad short list is as follows, in alphabetical order:
Saffron Cresswell (pictured at Barbury) aged 14, from Worcestershire riding her own Cuffesgrange Little Ric, 10 year old bay gelding (unknown breeding). This combination will be making their European Championship debut following a successful campaign so far this year; they won the final trial at Barbury as well as being sixth in the Charles Owen National Pony Championships last month.
Phoebe Locke 15, from Somerset riding her own Quay who is a 13 year old bay British-bred mare by Kuwait Beach. This is Phoebe’s second team appearance since she was part of the silver medal winning team in 2014 riding Mr Otto.
Phoebe Nicholson 16, from Herefordshire with Llanstephan Brenin, 15 year old British-bred chestnut gelding by Pennardd Annwfn and owned by Hannah Mcleish. Phoebe and the Welsh Pony & Cob Society papered gelding are also making their GB debut having consistently achieving top ten placing in every competition on the Pony programme in 2015.
Jessica Thomas 15, from Cheshire with Another Island, 12 year old grey gelding by Island Lad and owned by rider. Jessica was second in the final trial at Barbury last week with the grey gelding who was previously competed in Pony Trials by Jamie Thomas.
Thomas Tulloch 15 from Shropshire returns to the squad this year with Spirit VI, 17 year old bay gelding (unknown breeding) who is owned by his mother, Jancis Tulloch a former 4* level rider. Thomas and Spirit VI are perhaps the squad’s best known combination having won two successive British Pony Championship titles as well as representing GB as part of the team last year.
Harriet Wright 16, from Derbyshire with Foxtown Cufflynx, 10 year old iron grey gelding by Westside Mirah and owned by rider. This combination join GB as squad first timers following a successful 2015 campaign including a win at Withington Manor as well as finishing the final trial in seventh place.
The two reserves, in alphabetical order are:
Connie Warde-Aldam 14, from South Yorkshire with her own Hotshots, 15 year old chestnut British-bred gelding (unknown breeding). Hotshots is well known on the Pony circuit having been ridden by Sophie How then Annie Keir in recent years. This is the pair’s second season together with recent highlights including fifth place at Barbury.
Isabel White 16, from Nottinghamshire with her own Daydream Fourteen, 10 year old dun gelding (unknown breeding). Isabel and the gelding have gone from strength to strength since she took on the ride in 2013 and recently finished in second place at the British Pony Championships at Brand Hall.
