And there is plenty of Olympic Games pedigree in the Jumping team for Great Britain, with London 2012 gold medallists Nick Skelton and Ben Maher returning on Big Star and Tic Tac respectively – Rio 2016 being Skelton’s seventh Games, and his second on Big Star.
Los Angeles 1984 jumping team silver medallist John Whitaker, who’s set to feature in his sixth Olympic Games, will compete on Ornellaia while younger brother Michael, who heads to his fifth Olympics – who also won silver at LA 1984 – will compete aboard Cassionato.
Young showjumping star Jessica Mendoza will complement the team and travel to Rio as a reserve taking het Spirit T along for the trip.
The selecterd Brisith Showjumping team:
Ben Maher MBE, age 33, based Hertfordshire, with Jane Forbes Clark and his own Tic TacNick Skelton OBE, age 58, based Warwickshire, with Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star
John Whitaker MBE, age 60, based West Yorkshire, with Team Harmony Management Co Ltd’s Ornellaia
Michael Whitaker, age 56, based Nottinghamshire, with Beverley Widdowson’s Cassionato
Travelling reserve: Jessica Mendoza, age 20, hometown Wiltshire, with Sarah Mendoza’s Spirit T
