Congratulations Ben!!!

Yay my guess in yesterdays post was spot on
wink.gif
SO pleased for Ben! He really deserves it.
smile.gif
 
I think this is the right team AND the right squad...let's hope they all stay sound now for the next 8 weeks or so.

...and YES I certainly think Nick will take Russell ! He's still in with a shot at the individual (which he wants more than anything else) and in Russell he has a better than average shot at a medal
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Im surprised the hales will let russel travel!

[/ QUOTE ]

Why ?

And as he's been announced as travelling reserve anyway that commitment will have been obtained already.
 
Well they wont let arko go due to breeding and thats Russels second use also. Just surprised thats all.

fab team tho, very please Tim has finally made it!
 
I think Arko was withdrawn for fairly specific reasons to do with his health, age and obviously his value. Russell is still a very valuable horse but not in the same league as Arko and hasn't had the same problems that Arko has.

At the end of the day0 John Hales is chairman of the BSJA so is clearly going to want 'his' team to have the best possible chance.
 
I think an Olympic appearance will really help Russells stallion appeal. He is always viewed as second best to Arko, so this is his chance to prove himself. I think the Hales do need to take this opportunity if they want to market him as a serious stallion.

Fab news about Tim, about time, he's been close before so here's hoping it all goes right for him.

As for Ben, no I still don't want him on team.
 
Ben is like marmite, you either love him or hate him! It depends on what you hear, see or beleive, Good and bad.

I do know though that everybody (even people who do not like him) thinks he is a brilliant showjumper and respects him for that.

I agree with Rambo that on current form, the selectors have got it right. It must have been difficult to decide on the experience of Russell or what Rollette has to offer. If Locarno was fit then they would have had more of a headache. I know all the riders are proud to represent our country, especially Tim and Ben and I think we have a chance of winning a medal as there are not that many 'superstar horses' at the moment so the competition could be quite even. A good competition in prospect. all the best to all of them.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I know all the riders are proud to represent our country, especially Tim and Ben and I think we have a chance of winning a medal as there are not that many 'superstar horses' at the moment so the competition could be quite even. A good competition in prospect. all the best to all of them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Couldn't agree more...this has to be one of the most competitive teams we've had for a long time.

As for the superstar horses...well, of the top 5 or 6 in the world...Arko won't be there, Oakie Dokie won't be there (i think !?) and Jessica Kurtens two won' be there. Of those remaining, we have Peppermill on our side
grin.gif
That leaves Shutterfly, Cumano and Authentic by my reckoning
tongue.gif
 
I really like to the look of our team - fingers crossed that everyone stays sound.

I couldn't be more pleased for Tim Stockdale - I met him a couple of years ago at Hickstead and he was a very down to earth, un-pretentious bloke. You can tell he has worked incredibly hard to get where he has, and has certainly done his bit to put something back into the sport via sitting on various committees, working with the media, keeping a yard of horses going and having a young family !!

Good luck team GB
 
Selectors' job was certainly made far easier by sale of Pilgrim, soundness problems of Locarno (seems to be 1 of those horses so frustratingly fated to suffer a succession of fitness problems) and decision about Arko.

Okidoki was reported to be less seriously damaged by the freak accident than originally feared so may well make it to Hong Kong. Rumoured to be doubts over whether Shutterfly would be risked, but the rumour mill is not to be relied upon! Also not to be ruled out as strong medal prospects: Eric Lamaze's Hickstead and McLain Ward's Sapphire.
 
Yes, another two very reliable and very experienced horses that I had overlooked...i'm sure there are others too.

Out of interest, on the Pilgrim front, I read somewhere that horses had to be owned by someone of the same nationality as the country they are representing
crazy.gif
Would Pilgrim even have been eligible to represent GBR if he was owned by a German
tongue.gif
 
Parkmore Ed is WFP first choice eventing yet is owned by an American so not quite sure about the rules on this as I had always been led to believe that they did need to be part or fully GB owned.
 
Yes they do need to be owned by someone with the same nationality. It's got around by registering a different owner e.g. when Dollar Girl's Swiss owner moved her from Thomas Fuchs to be ridden initially by John Whitaker, and later by Nick Skelton, the mare was registered as owned by Clare Whitaker. Also why lots of horses are listed as being owned by Michael Whitaker when in fact they are owned by people from other countries.
 
Ahh...thanks for the clarification
smile.gif


Seems like a rather pointless rule if it's that easy to circumvent though
tongue.gif
 
Congratulations Ben you truly deserve it.. now make us all proud by bringing us home a medal!!
As for Diesel Dog, so sad to have such a negative attitude towards Ben. He's done a wonderful job in producing an inexperienced horse to that level and results have proven, he has every right to be on the team, and what a great team it is!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top