Dressage Team announced for Beijing Olympic Games 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Dressage Team:
- Laura Bechtolsheimer
riding her own and Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Mistral Hojris, - Jane Gregory
riding Greenlands Farm Ltd’s Lucky Star - Emma Hindle
riding her own Lancet
Commenting on their selection the athletes said:
Laura Bechtolsheimer:
“It’s very exciting, our whole season has been focused on selection but to have it confirmed still feels surreal, it hasn’t sunk in. Mistral Hojris is very special and I feel privileged to have a horse like him to take to my first Olympics. We have come a long way together and I feel confident that he will give it everything.”
Jane Gregory:
“I am in a state of shock! My goal this year has been to improve my riding and my training; we’ve been enjoying our international success so much and never dared to hope we would be in contention for an Olympic team position. I have ridden Lucky Star since he was 4 years old, he is an extraordinary horse and we are both preparing to give this all we’ve got.”
Emma Hindle:
“I am thrilled to be selected again to represent Great Britain. I have a great horse in Lancet and I am confident that we should be able to perform well in Hong Kong.”
For the Dressage riders the road to selection has seen some challenges for all the athletes but Laura, Emma and Jane rightly deserve their shot at the Olympics. All have represented Great Britain before but this will be Laura's first Olympics. They know what they need to do to bring home a medal and I know they are focused, determined and ready for the challenge ahead.
