Top eventer Oliver Townend has withdrawn from the Great Britain squad reserve list for next month’s World Equestrian Games.
Oliver Townend
Townend, who won the prestigious Badminton and Burghley titles last year, was a surprise exclusion when the British selectors named their six-rider group that will head to Kentucky next month.
The twenty-seven-year-old had to be content with a place among the non-travelling reserves aboard Ashdale Cruise Master, but he has now become the second name on that list to drop out.
Olympian Daisy Berkeley, who recently announced she is expecting a baby in the new year, will not be available on Spring Along.
And that currently leaves just Sharon Hunt and Lucy Wiegersma as back-up to William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell, Mary King, Tina Cook, Piggy French and Nicola Wilson.
Townend, meanwhile, has also withdrawn Ashdale Cruise Master from Burghley next week and will defend his title there on last year’s winner Carousel Quest.
“Next year is going to be very important in terms of qualification for the Olympics,” said Townend adding, “it is in everyone’s interests here to prepare well over the coming winter. I want to start that preparation as soon as possible.”
Townend and Carousel Quest would enter the Burghley record books if they triumph in Lincolnshire next week as no same combination has won the four-star competition two years running.
They face a tough task though, as the entry list also includes challenges from the likes of Fox-Pitt, King, double Olympic gold medalist Mark Todd, reigning Badminton champion Paul Tapner and in-form New Zealander Andrew Nicholson.
