British Team - London 2012

The British Olympic Association confirmed the five members of Britain's Eventing Team on Thursday 14th June

Between the five selected riders the eventing team contains a wealth of experience; this will be Mary King’s sixth Olympic Games; William Fox-Pitt’s fourth and Kristina Cook’s second. Although Zara Phillips and Georgina French will make their Olympic debuts in London 2012, they are also no strangers to championship call ups for their country.

Kristina Cook, William Fox-Pitt and Mary King were all members of the GB eventing squad that won team bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where Kristina also scooped the individual bronze on Miner’s Frolic. The same trio were then part of the team that won gold at the 2010 World Championships, where William Fox-Pitt took an individual silver medal.

Zara was crowned individual World Champion in 2006 but missed out on her Olympic dream in 2008 when her horse Toytown suffered an injury prior to competition. She is now back at the top of the sport with High Kingdom, a horse that she has brought up the ranks from novice level.

Georgina French (more commonly known as Piggy), won individual silver at the 2009 European Championships and was also part of the 2011 European Championship team that won bronze alongside team mates Fox-Pitt and King. Piggy also won the Olympic Test event in Greenwich in 2011.

Kristina 'Tina' Cook 
(41) from Worthing, West Sussex riding Miners Frolic ('Henry'), owned by Sarah Pelham, Nicholas & Valda Embiricos.

Kristina Cook on her selection: “I’m totally thrilled! After the horse’s illness last year this is a dream come true. With his past form Miner’s Frolic has proved he can do it but he nearly died of colitis 12 months ago so to come back to this level shows he’s a real fighter - that’s what pulled him through. He’s gone really well this season so I’m very excited to get the opportunity to take him to London.

"I’ve had him since he was four years old, he’s kind and talented and we have a great partnership. Greenwich will be challenging but he’s a well bred horse, fast cross country but adjustable and polite which is important for those hills!”

William Fox-Pitt
(43) from Sturminster Newton, Dorset riding Lionheart ('Lion'), owned by Jeremy & Judith Skinner. 

William commented on his selection: “It’s a great honour and a privilege to be selected for the British team. It’s particularly exciting as its London and I can’t wait for the Games to get started and experience the London Olympics.

"It’s very exciting to be part of such a strong team and I’m particularly delighted for my long-time owners Judy and Jeremy Skinner. Lionheart is a phenomenal horse and an incredible athlete with a great temperament and he’ll be able to cope with Greenwich perfectly. I’m really looking forward to riding there; he’s only a ten year old but a very generous and talented horse. In my opinion he’s made for Greenwich.”

Georgina 'Piggy' French
(31) from Lubenham, Leicestershire riding DHI Topper W ('Topper'), owned by Wally French & Michael Underwood. 

Piggy says of the announcement: “I am overly excited and very relieved. It is what my team and I have been working towards over the last few years so it’s excellent to be getting this far; we just have to hope and pray that they stay in one piece to get there.

"I have to say a massive thank you to my owners for their support; I wouldn’t have got to this stage without them. Obviously I am confident that ‘Topper’ will cope with the going there because of our experience at the test event.” 

Mary King
(51) from Sidmouth, Devon riding Imperial Cavalier ('Archie'), owned by Janette Chinn and Edwin & Sue Davies.

Mary said: “It is such an honour to be selected to represent GB at what will, all being well, be my sixth Olympic Games. It is a very strong team and I hope that they are the ones to help me complete my set of all three colours of medals!

"I am so pleased that ‘Archie’ will get the chance to compete at an Olympic Games, he so deserves this opportunity and I am sure he will rise to the occasion! He is a big powerful horse which means he should be able to cope well with the undulations and be strong enough to handle galloping up and down those hills!” 
 

Zara Phillips
(31) from Stroud, Gloucestershire riding High Kingdom ('Trev'), owned by Gleadhill House Stud Ltd.

Zara on being picked: “It’s awesome to be given this opportunity, I’m really excited and can’t wait to kick on and get him there - hopefully we will make it this time after you know what happened last...

"High Kingdom is a pretty cool, very relaxed kind of guy, I was really happy with him at Bramham as he’d obviously grown up and is improving all the time.

"He’s pretty pony-like, a nippy little jumper and easy to manoeuvre so hopefully it will suit him well in Greenwich. High Kingdom is owned by Trevor Hemmings who’s been one of my earliest supporters – he’s owned a lot of my horses and has been so supportive, I couldn’t do it without him."

 View the full list of British horses and rider's nominated for this year's Olympic Games.