The British team will be attempting to make it a hat-trick at Houghton International this weekend (22-25 May), having won the British leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup series for the last two years.
Exciting
This year’s team comprises: Ros Canter (28) from Louth, Lincolnshire, on Zenshera; David Doel (21) from Chippenham in Wiltshire, riding Koyuna Sun Magic; Dani Evans (22) from Bristol on Smart Time; and Emily Llewellyn (24) from Heathfield in East Sussex riding Junior II.
Despite their young ages, the team aready has a wealth of experience at this level. Ros was on the winning team for the second leg of the FEI Nations Cup in Ballindenisk, Ireland. Team manager Phillip Surl said it will be “exciting to see how they fare in front of the home crowd”.
According to Philip, David Doel and Koyuna Sun Magic have been a “strong partnership for some time”. The pair came second in the CIC3* at Tattersalls last season and fourth in the Advanced Intermediate at Kelsall Hil last month.
Winning team
Dani Evans rode on the Nations Cup squad last year in Italy where she came seventh overall. This time she will be riding her partner from the 2013 Young Rider Europeans.
Emily Llewellyn and Junior II have also represented their country before, and were part of on the winnng Nations Cup team last time out at Houghton Hall.
“They also have CCI4* completions under their belts from Pau and Luhmuehlen last year so it will be interesting to see how they have come on as part of the team this time around,” said Phillip.
Britain is currently in second place overall after the first two competitions, having come third at the opening leg in Fontainebleau and first in Ballindenisk. This puts them on 19 points, just behind France who are on 20. The Netherlands are in third place with nine.
Big names
Running alongside the FEI Nations Cup at Houghton Hall is the CIC3* competition, which will see some of the biggest names in the sport competing. Riders entered include London 2012 silver medallist Nicola Wilson, Badminton winner Sam Griffiths, Pippa Funnell, Andrew Nicholson andMark Todd – who comes fresh from his win at Chatsworth.
There are also one-star and two-star classes as well as the Askham Bryan Under 21 British National Championship.
As well as the eventing there is dressing and showjumping as well as shopping and children’s entertainment.