Equestrian Team GBR launched at Lee Valley Riding Centre
Date Published: 26/09/2007
Team GBR
The Lee Valley Riding Centre was brimming with champions yesterday as it hosted the official launch of Equestrian Team GBR.
Stars from the riding world including current Eventing World Champion Zara Phillips and Paralympic Dressage gold medalist Lee Pearson, came together at the centre to promote the sport and demonstrate the teams recent success.
The creation of Equestrian Team GBR by the British Equestrian Federation is a collective commitment to maintain a consistent level of high performance across the main disciplines of Eventing, Show Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage.
Zara Phillips said :“This is a real boost for the sport in Britain and will help to ensure that our brightest talents receive the best possible support in the lead up to Beijing in 2008 and, of course, to London in 2012”.
Equestrian Team GBR is underpinned by the World Class programme, funded by the national lottery via UK Sport. This allows rigorous and scientific support of the development of athletes and their horses. With 2012 in mind, special emphasis is placed on the nurturing of young talent, both human and equine.
Team GBR and the British Equestrian Federation were also keen to use the opportunity to promote horse riding disciplines to a wider audience and to break down preconceived ideas about horse riding.
Being close to the future Olympic Park, the Lee Valley Riding Centre was a perfect venue for the launch. As the first equestrian centre to receive the industry recognised Quest award for quality it fulfils a vital role of sports provision in the heart of London, working to encourage more young people to take up riding and changing the perception of riding as an elitist sport.
Ashley Bartlett Area Manager for Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, said:
“We were honoured to host the Great British Team for their official launch. The riding centre has a fundamental role to play in the development of future champions and we welcome the support and partnership of the British Equestrian Federation”.