Since 1998 the Olympic equestrian sports have received Lottery funding through UK Sport to develop their elite riders for future Olympic success. The World Class Performance plan aims to identify and develop outstanding talent in the equestrian sports of Dressage, Para Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping and is based on a template that has been outstandingly successful for other Olympic sports such as rowing. It has revolutionised these sports' approach to human and equine sports science and given riders expert help in fitness, nutrition, sports psychology and in top coaching.
World Class Performance squad riders form the current British Equestrian Team and compete at the highest level. Depending on their rate of development and the number of years that they have been in the sport this might be from the age of 19 upward and but it is usual for riders not to reach their peak until their thirties, forties or later.
Riders can compete for a number of years at the highest level before realising their potential and so could remain in World Class Performance until the age of 45 plus. It has already been highlighted that the average age of a rider at their peak is considerably higher than in the majority of other sports. This is due to the immense amount of top flight competitive experience that is required to achieve success in equestrianism at the highest level.
There will continue to be approximately 40 riders on the WC Performance Programme at any one time. Find out how the squad is selected.
Who's in the 2007 squad? (as at 01.11.2007)
Dressage
Laura Bechtolsheimer
Stephanie Croxford
Richard Davison
Maria Eiberg
Emile Faurie
Carl Hester
Emma Hindle
Anna Ross-Davies
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Para Dressage
Ricky Balshaw
Sophie Christiansen
Debbie Criddle
Michelle Crunkhorn
Anne Dunham
Simon Laurens
Lee Pearson
Jo Pitt
Nicola Tustain
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Eventing
Sarah Cohen
Kristina Cook
Georgie Davies
Daisy Dick
William Fox-Pitt
Pippa Funnell
Sharon Hunt
Mary King
Zara Phillips
Rodney Powell
James Robinson
Polly Stockton
Oliver Townend
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Show Jumping
Mark Armstrong
Duncan Inglis
William Funnell
Tim Gredley
Nick Skelton
Robert Smith
Tim Stockdale
Ellen Whitaker
John Whitaker
Michael Whitaker
Robert Whitaker |
