WEG Team announced

Ummm, don't think 2 3* results this spring can really be classified as "consistent form" :p

Maybe she'll go completely brilliantly but still think it is not fair on those who have proved themselves at 4* not to get the chance to go to what is, now, the only 4* Championships (think I'm right in saying the Olympics are 3* to encourage lesser nations, and the Europeans certainly are...)

I have more sympathy with the choice of Redesigned, partly because I'm biased in favour of Pippa :D and he is a stunning young horse - plus he's untested at 4* so who is to say he won't rise to the occasion? Whereas horses who have been tested and found wanting... Agree I think Tina is a tad lucky to keep her place - wasn't Badminton his first 4*? Would have liked to see him run well over a decent track, not some AI as a final test run, before giving him his place. And poor old Lucy, what on earth does she have to do?? Oli, btw, is indeed a winner but interestingly far more on his own behalf than for his country, if you look at his team results ;)
 
MegaBeast said:
Interesting selection. Must say I didn't envy the selectors this year as there seem to be more strong/reliable combinations than previous years
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I disagree with this, actually, I too wouldn't have liked to be a selector but more on the basis that everyone has been so unreliable!! All the people you would have wanted to have good Badminton/Kentucky results, with the exception of William and Mary, came unstuck!! (Oli, Lucy, Piggy, Sharon etc etc)
 
TableDancer said:
Ummm, don't think 2 3* results this spring can really be classified as "consistent form" :p

I have more sympathy with the choice of Redesigned, partly because I'm biased in favour of Pippa :D and he is a stunning young horse - plus he's untested at 4* so who is to say he won't rise to the occasion?
I am also a great believer in Pippa, the horse may not be the most experienced, but with a rider like Pippa aboard then surely they are a solid combination. She is of course, the only person with the grand slam to her name. *You can tell I like Pippa alot!!* So pleased for her!
What does everybody think of William's choice of horse? I mean he has Cool Mountain on the list and obviously he has already won at Kentucky so that is a major bonus. But does anyone feel that they shouldnt rule out Williams other horses? He does have a great string of horses!
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I'm suprised to see quite a few combinations
- Although a great beliver in Pippa - he's got good consistent form at 3* but surley WEG isn't exactly the perfect first 4* - especially with the atmosphere and the travelling required to get there?! But i'm sure she'll proove my words wrong as she is an amazing jockey.
- Suprised to see Jakata...not the most...uurmm...Consistent horse really? although this season his form has been impecable with the 'Barbury Blip', however the fact he's failed to get round a 4* leaves questions running...
 
I feel so bad for Lucy going round and getting really decent 4* results, when Jakata who has a sketchy 4* record goes onto the team.
 
I'm another to be surprised about Jakata's inclusion at the expense of more successful pairs, as I've already posted on the thread in Latest News. I'm not doubting Piggy's credentials, but it would be good to read an explanation of the decisions.
 
A mixed team imo, totally expected to See William F-P in there and he has a string of horses with championship potential as back up and Nicola Wilson & Opposition Buzz deserve their place, should be a great trailblazer for the team.

Nice to see Pippa back in the picture with an up and coming horse but I shan't comment on Piggy French's Jakata as I'm pretty unfamiliar with the combination.

Looking at the reserves we definitely have strength in depth so here's hoping for a successful championship!
 
Interesting team IMO, expected Oli and Sharon/Lucy to be in. Pippa is a great rider and deserves the place I think she has spent so long trying to get back up to the top! I wondered about Piggy's selection last year-and look what she did. I think she is a very talented jockey and the selectors obviously love her!
 
I think it is a very strong team! we should do very well!
However i would have liked to see Daisy Berkley and Spring Along on the team, Spring Along may be an older horse but he is in amazing form.
Very happy Redesigned and Minors Frolic are in two very talented horses!! And Nicola Wilson Deffinitaly deserves her places after her result at barbury :)
 
Fairly suprised at the selection, Really pleased for Pippa though, i think its a shame about Spring Along and Tankers Town but the selectors have obviously got their reasons .. what ever they may be!!! Suprised at Piggy's selecetion I am a massive fan and totally biased so really pleased for her .. guessing she'll be as an individual again .. unless other combinations go wrong in the lead up to it !! Really strong team though aand hopefully we can have good results :) :) Also thrilled for Nicola Wilson and fingers crossed they have a good lead up to WEG and do an amazing pathfinding role :)
 
I have to agree with the majority of comments on this. I think piggy is a good rider but Jakata does not have the form of some of the others. I think it is a good team but would swap spring along for Jakata.
Given the cost etc I definately would not put TT on the plane and can understand why the selectors chose others over OT & ACM.
 
I haven't seen Jakata compete, so cannot comment on that.
However, wasn't Miner's Frolic a bit of a questionable choice at the Olympics having not done a 4* before and what did he do there? :p So I don't doubt that him and Tina Cook can pull something out of the bag when it really matters. Glad Opposition Buzz is going, maybe they suspect the journey might be too much for an older horse like Spring Along?
 
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Weird to be picking two horses with zero 4* form when there's others available with far better results at 4*... Hadn't realised that Redesigned completed his first 3* this year - hope it works out better than Langarth Darcy did for Rodney Powell!

It would be difficult to leave out the current European Champion - Zara won her World Championship off limited form - hopefully Miner's Frolic will enjoy the big stage as he usually does. WFP had to be picked after winning Kentucky. I can see why Oli was a reserve, but it seems weird for the two older, experienced horses with good form this season (Spring Along and Tankers Town) to be selected as reserves - either they're too old, in which case why select as reserves, or they're not, so select them on their form this season, which would put them ahead of most of the selected team.

Of course by September all the reserves could be on the team...
 
Fully agree with Opp Buzz and not necessarily just a trailblazer after his barbury run,he in my opinion does'nt need to prove his place.Mk was a cert i thought but Miners Frolic would'nt be my choice unless a solid run at another event eg Gatcombe.

I love Piggy but I have to say I do question the horse not the rider,if Someday was fit i would be more than happy. I would'nt have picked Redesigned either, lovely horse but I hate to say it but I am not sure PF is the same rider of Supreme Rock/Primores Pride Days. I feel for Lucy in particular as well as Daisy and Oli but they may get their chance yet.
 
Piggy has only been riding Jakata this year. He is a very talented horse and she is a good team member. He has done nothing wrong with Piggy. At Barbury he did a very good test (was sound on the grass) but was not quite when trotted on the hard for the trot up. He had had a problem with a shoe so only minor. Bramham was as big a 3* as you will get and he looked super round there so there is no reason to think that he won't go 4* with this rider.
Redesigned has plenty of 3* experience and has always looked very good. He only didn't complete at Blenheim as he had banged a knee and as he would do another 3* before going up to 4* there was no need to risk him in the show jumping. He was very good across country.
Minors Frolic showed his 4* ability at Luhmuhlen last year. Everyone knows how he coped with a championship 3* last year and it would be hard to leave out the European Champion and Olympic medallist.
All these 3 are consistently good in the dressage as well.

The reserves are all on there for a reason and there is every chance that 1 or more will get the call up.
 
Crikey - didn't expect to see some of those names.

Granted I really admire PF and Redesigned after a very classy win over an extremely tough Bramham track, but I expected them to then run at Badminton next spring, and hopefully re-appear on the GB team for the 2011 Europeans. I think WEG (at 4*) sounds like a year too early. Wasn't she quoted in H&H/Eventing as saying he still needed time to strengthen up etc.

Do not know Jakarta (except for good run at Bramham) but others on here obviously have their doubts, and surely the Lumhulen winner (Tankerstown) or Badminton 3rd (Springalong) would be a more known quantity. Even OT seems to be really getting to grips with ACM now at Lumhulen (all these being 4* results which surely should be used to decide form for a Championships which is run at 4* level).

Fiona
 
Disagree about Zara having limited form - she had come 2nd at Burghley was unlucky to lose to Pippa Funnell who won the grand slam that year. She then showed amazing grit at the Euros to win before being selected for WEG. Zara was shortlisted for Athens but could not go as horse was not quite sound.
I am surprised by Jakata especially as I feel many of the others show stronger form. Lets just hope the xc is not like it was 4 years ago when it was very much not a dressage competition at WEG.
 
Not putting words in other people’s mouths, but Zara had quite limited form in 2006, i.e. all the way after winning the Euros. In fact, I saw her walk by outside the stadium on WEG Thursday, and kinda thought, “Hm, how fleeting success with horses is”, and next thing you knew, she was World Champion of course. :D

Anyway. This really HAS to be the strongest reserve of all times! :eek:
 
Mutley said:
Don't tell me the British Selectors have overlooked Matt Ryan too! Maybe he will try moving to Mongolia now.
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I just don't think he's got a good enough horse at the moment.

Very interesting selections. I really feel for Sharon most, that horse is such a superstar and Luhmuhlen was a hot competition. What else do they have to do?!
If they run some/all of them at Hartpury though I expect there might possibly be some alterations to the squad...
 
Im surprised everyone is surprised TT wasnt picked after his antics in the start box at Badminton last year. I know these now seem 'sorted' and he was obviously fine at Luhmuhlen and obviously incredibly talented but I really dont think you can risk putting him in the team when there is a small % he might get stage fright and not make it out of the box.

So happy to see Pippa back on the team :) I just hope Tina can hold it together like she did at the Olympics, she looked very worried and nervous at Badminton for some reason and never really got going.
 
Mutley said:
Don't tell me the British Selectors have overlooked Matt Ryan too! Maybe he will try moving to Mongolia now.
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Unnecessarily bitchy comment imo :mad: Most people have been making reasoned arguments for their favourites being left out/put in which you may or may not agree with, rather than catty one-liners which are totally pointless.

If you believe Matt changed nationality in order to gain easier selection you are firstly obviously ignorant of the facts and secondly completely insane - nobody in their right mind would choose British citizenship on such a basis. If you don't, in fact, believe this I can't understand why you just posted your comment above other than to make mischief.

Many people, quite possibly including you, are aware this isn't a great time for Matt - well done for making his life just that bit more pleasant. :(
 
Very pleased for Pippa Funnell, that's great new's but I can't believe that Oliver Townend has been left off the team and put on the reserve list, I would have betted money that he would have been on the team, still a lot can happen in 3 months, its not over till its over.
 
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