GB’s spotless record in equestrian qualification is expected to continue as the eventing team looks to join the dressage and jumping team in Paris in 2024. With seven team quotas up for grabs, which will also mean three individual places each for the seven countries, the Olympic champions will hope to finish in the top seven (or more likely, the top eight as France are ineligible having already qualified) to qualify for the Paris Games at an absolute minimum. The Rocca di Papa Federal Equestrian Centre, in the hamlet of Pratoni del Vivaro (population 488)
Our team needs no introduction, but I’ll do it anyway, in alphabetical order. Rosalind Carter is the defending double world champion, having won the individual and team event in 2018 in Tyron, USA, and has been picking up some very decent results on Lordships Graffalo, who Canter describes as an “incredible horse”… although I suppose she would, really. Laura Collett is an Olympic champion having won gold on London 52, and to be honest there is nothing to suggest either of them are stopping their brilliant form any time soon. If you haven’t heard Collett’s story, I suggest you read it, as it is even more inspirational than most of our team. The least known athlete on our team is probably Yasmin Ingham, who is considered a rising star: it certainly takes a lot to get into this team. Banzai Du Loir has been with her sharp rise, and the two will hope to make a splash. Tom McEwen was in our gold medal winning team and also won individual silver, and Toldeo de Kerser is back too, while Oliver Townend will also be hoping to add more bling on Ballaghmor Class.
It will be interesting to see how our team perform with COVID-19 still making the schedule a bit funny, but top seven out of fifteen eligible countries is considered a certainty.
The full list of sixteen teams is: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France (ineligible for Olympic qualification), Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.
There will be coverage on the BBC. The dressage competition will take place on 15 and 16 September, with Cross-Country on 17 September, and Jumping on 18 September.
GB Games 