The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has selected Rutland event rider Richard Jones as one of five event riders for the UK Sport World Class Podium Potential squad for 2019-2021. As part of the programme Richard will receive not only lottery funding, but also a huge amount of human and equine sports science and medicine, nutrition and sports psychology training and support.
The National Lottery funded programme will target 25 riders (see full list below) from all of the equestrian disciplines who are believed to have the ability and current form to be able to win medals for GB. All the athletes chosen for the Programme will receive tailored support in world-class coaching as part of an established training pathway.
The BEF reviewed the performance pathway in early 2017 and the application and selection process assessed athlete and horse combinations on their potential to compete on a Senior Championship team for Great Britain and add to its medal success. The process included athletes being evaluated on a range of areas which included their competition record, performance attitude and the health and fitness of themselves and their horses and this resulted in a wider pool support through training and through access to sports physicians and psychologists.
Richard Jones is thrilled: “2018 has been a fantastically successful year and to be selected for a place on the Podium Potential Squad so soon is hugely rewarding. I’m looking forward to working and collaborating closely with the other eventing riders selected for the Programme and have my sights set firmly on a position within a British team to justify the trust of the BEF.”
BEF Head of Performance Pathways, David Hamer said; “We received a lot of impressive applications and we are very pleased to be able to welcome the selected athletes on to the Programme.”
BEF Chief Executive Nick Fellows added; “I would like to congratulate all of the athletes who have been selected for the Podium Potential squad. This is a very talented pool of athletes with exciting horse power and I cannot wait to see how they progress over the next two years on the Programme.
“Our World Class team will be supporting these athletes and their horses on their journey as we seek to establish medal winners for the future.”
About Team Jones Team Jones is based at Lowlands Farm in Rutland. Richard Jones is emerging as a top UK eventer – in the top ten at Burghley and at Blenheim in 2018 – and his wife Victoria is going from strength to strength, rebuilding her international dressage career – interrupted first by ME and then a pause to establish a family. The team has just finished a full all-weather cross-country course to add to their facilities so that training can go on for youngsters and established eventers alike.
Find out about what’s happening at www.teamjonesequestrian.com, follow them on Twitter and Facebook, and check out the Instagram account.
About The World Class Programme
The World Class Programme is funded by UK Sport, through Exchequer and National Lottery support. The primary role of UK Sport is to strategically invest National Lottery and Exchequer income to maximise sporting performance. The World Class Programme, and Equestrian Team GBR’s teams, are also grateful for the support is receives from its official partners: Dodson and Horrell, Equi-Trek, FALPRO England, Musto, NAF and Point Two.
The 2019-2021 podium potential squad is made up of the following athletes:
Dressage:
Charlotte Fry, Sonnar Murray-Brown, Becky Moody, Alice Oppenheimer and Hayley Watson-Greaves
Eventing:
Tom Jackson, Richard Jones, Harry Meade, Willa Newton and Georgie Spence
Para-Dressage:
Heather Bennett, Charlotte Cundall, Diane Green, Izzy Palmer, Julie Payne, Amanda Shirtcliffe and Georgia Wilson
Showjumping:
Alison Barton, Amanda Derbyshire, Jamie Gornall, Amy Inglis, Harriet Nuttall, Anna Power, Holly Smith and Ellen Whitaker