PRESS RELEASE : British Eventing The British Equestrian Federation has announced the four athletes and horses who will make up the British Eventing team for this weekend's second leg of the FEI Nations Cup series, hosted at Ballendenisk International between 22 and 25 April 2016. The team is as follows:

  • Nana Dalton (36) on Mrs Sheila Barker’s Romany Piper or Mrs Sheila Jones’ Elite Syncopation or her own and Mrs Rosie Glaister’s Absolut Opposition
  • Wills Oakden (26) riding Mrs Debbie Whalley’s Merikano
  • Franky Reid-Warrilow (26) and her own Dolley Whisper
  • Izzy Taylor (32) with Mrs Bridget A Lyne’s Briarlands Birdsong or Mr Tom Strong’s Call Me Maggie May
  Wills Oakden and Franky Reid-Warrilow both make their Nations Cup debut following impressive results in 2015. Wills, a member of the UK Sport National Lottery funded World Class Podium Potential squad, got his first senior call up at the 2015 FEI European Championships at Blair Castle riding Mr David Kenwright’s Greystone Midnight Melody. Ireland’s Nations Cup leg sees the 26 year old from Perthshire bringing forward Mrs Debbie Whalley’s 13 year old Merikano who finished in the top ten at the 2015 Weston Park International CCI2* before taking sixth place at Burgham International CIC2* earlier this year. Franky from Powys and her own Dolley Whisper had a phenomenal 2015 as they took both the team silver and individual gold medal at the CIC2* European Championships in Holland, ahead of a top 20 placing in the 2015 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3*. Individual winner at the Waregem fixture of the 2015 Nations Cup, West Sussex’s Nana Dalton, gives the selectors a choice of her own and Mrs Sheila Barker’s Romany Piper, Mrs Sheila Jones’ Elite Syncopation and her own and Mrs Rosie Glaister’s Absolut Opposition - with team selection taking place following the first Horse Inspection. Experienced GB representative Izzy Taylor will ride either Mrs Bridget A Lyne’s Briarlands Birdsong or Mr Tom Strong’s Call Me Maggie May. The Oxfordshire based World Class Podium rider has enjoyed good results on both of her rides with the 10 year old Briarlands Birdsong claiming seventh place at the Boekelo CCI3* last year and taking fifth place on Call Me Maggie May at Ballindenisk International CIC3* in September 2015. The 2016 series sees nine CICO3* events taking place throughout the year with Fontainebleau, France running the opening event in March where GB finished in sixth place. Details on Ballindenisk International can be found on their website. The British Eventing teams are supported by the Equestrian World Class Programme. The Programme, which encompasses both Podium and Podium Potential squads, focuses on identifying talent, developing potential and maximising medal winning performances on the world stage. The Programme has been funded by the National Lottery via UK Sport since 1998 and is a portfolio within the British Equestrian Federation. 2016 Series Dates:
  • Fontainebleau (FRA) 23 - 25 March 2016
  • Ballindenisk (IRL) 22 - 24 April 2016
  • Houghton Hall (GBR) 26 - 29 May 2016
  • Strzegom (POL) 24 - 26 June 2016
  • The Plains (USA) 08 - 10 July 2016
  • Aachen (GER) 14 - 17 July 2016
  • Vairano (ITA) 16 - 18 September 2016
  • Waregem (BEL) 22 - 25 September 2016
  • Boekelo (NED) 06 - 09 October 2016