BEF to conduct review
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The British Equestrian Federation will undertake a full review of the plans and performances in the lead up to and during the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Hong Kong. The review will include the full engagement of UK Sport, British Dressage, British Eventing and the British Show Jumping Association.
At the Olympic Games, the Eventing riders won the Team Bronze and Tina Cook won the individual Bronze. The overall target for equestrian events was to win 3 Olympic medals. At the Paralympic Games, the target was to win 8 medals. The team (Lee Pearson, Anne Dunham, Sophie Christiansen and Simon Laurens) and individuals won an outstanding 5 Gold and 5 Silver medals, more than any other equestrian nation. Individual Gold medals were won by Lee Pearson (who won 2), Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham while individual Silver medals were won by Anne Dunham, Ricky Balshaw, Simon Laurens, Sophie Christiansen and Felicity Coulthard.
BEF’s Chief Executive comments on the British performances:
“At the Olympic Games we were disappointed to miss the overall medal target. Nonetheless there were some highlights that we should celebrate notably Tina Cook’s individual bronze medal and the Eventing team Bronze.
In the Paralympic Games we congratulate Lee Pearson in winning his 9th gold medal in 3 successive Paralympic Games and the fabulous performance of the whole Paralympic team to lead the medal table with 10 ahead of Germany with 6. This is simply outstanding."
On the BEF review Andrew Finding comments:
“The Olympic and Paralympic effort which involved sending 21 riders, 21 horses and 57 support team members out to Hong Kong was a huge operation. There are always many factors influencing performance in a project of this size. To name just two, on the negative side the British team suffered an unusual number of horse injuries both in the run up to the Olympic Games and whilst in Hong Kong. On the positive side the logistical operations and conduct of the support teams were excellent.
Our job is now to analyse in detail all aspects of our team performance in order to be clear about the things that affected performance both positively and negatively. This is an essential part of the process in the pursuit for excellence. We now have our eyes firmly on 2012 and we will put in place systems and procedures to capitalise on the good and improve on weaknesses.
On funding:
I have been asked whether our funding is secure up to 2012. UK Sport which provides the world class performance and development funding will be assessing our performance on a quarterly basis as usual through their Mission 2012 concept. Decisions are made not just on the basis of the medals won from these Games but on athletes’ performance and development, the performance system that sits behind them and the leadership and climate that exists within the sport. Essentially, it is now all about our potential to succeed in 2012.
We have an outstanding track record of international success and the continuing success of our young rider, junior and pony teams is an indication of great potential. In all age groups our athletes won 37 medals in 2007 and have already won 25 medals at international level this year. The operational support we give our horses and riders through the world class team is I believe second to none. The levels of professionalism have increased substantially and this could only have happened with the investment made by UK Sport. There will be valuable lessons to learn from the imminent review and we will make the necessary changes to ensure success in 2012."
Filed Under
Olympics
