Show Jumpers win European Bronze medal and Olympic Qualification

Great Britain has secured their place at the 2008 Olympic Games, taking the Bronze medal at the European Show Jumping Championships in Mannheim, Germany. After a shaky start to today's second round, performances improved throughout the afternoon, bringing a medal winning position and Olympic qualification closer and closer.

With twenty one year old  Ellen Whitaker, one of the youngest riders at this year's Championship's, producing a phenomenal performance by jumping clear with one time fault everyone was on the edge of their seats watching the competition unfold before them.  Taking the role of anchorman, as only John Whitaker can, he entered the ring focused calmly on the job ahead. 

The tremendous relationship John has built with Rebecca Stones' Peppermill had never been more evident than it was this afternoon with a calm, calculated and precise way that they executed a foot perfect round, securing the Bronze medal for Great Britain and qualification for the 2008 Hong Kong Olympic Games.  The remaining two qualification places went to Sweden and Norway.

An emotional Team Manager, Derek Ricketts said: "Its been a very stressful day but our plans have paid off, we are coming away with not only Olympic qualification but also a Bronze medal.  This is a fantastic achievement for Great Britain and proves that the strategic approach we have taken to performance this year has paid dividends".

World Class Performance Director, Will Connell said: "Great Britain is an extremely solid team.  It has been a fantastic atmosphere in Mannheim all week and this result just proves how successful we are as a nation in this sport".