TINA'S ATHENS HOPES ARE FADING

FINDON eventer Tina Cook has had her hopes of making the British three day event team for the Athens Olympics all but dashed after being selected with Judy Gardner and J&E Sedgwick & Co Ltd's Captain Christy in only the Second Reserve Group.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th May 2004, 15:50 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:11 BST

Although the 12-year-old gelding has an excellent three-day record, his slip on a turn going cross-country at Badminton has proved costly, even though he is 100% fit and others' mistakes seem to be excusable.

Tina's chances of making the team now look extremely slim. Four of the five team members have reserve horses, and the First Reserve Group contains three riders, so it would take an enormous run of ill luck for the Second Reserve of six riders to be called upon. Yet, back in 1992, for Atlanta, the selectors struggled with horse and rider injuries, with even Tina missing out as her two horses were injured.

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A proven and dedicated horsewoman, she said: "I am very disappointed not to have been considered but I will be aiming to do Burghley with Captain Christy in September. I am getting disillusioned with the sport but want to be competitive and keep on having horses at the top."

At the weekend she was third in the Chatsworth Advanced over a substantial international track, on Jim Chromiak's 13-year-old ex-racehorse Headwind, whose actual racing mileage is low. Therefore, he could also be a contender alongside Captain Christy for next year's European Championships, which Britain hosts at Blenheim. That calls for a 12-strong squad.

Furthermore, Captain Christy will still be relatively young in 2008, at 16 the same age as one of the current British Olympic team horses and one of the First Reserves for Athens.

The Athens Olympic Team: Jeanette Brakewell (horse, Over To You), Sarah Cutteridge (The Wexford Lady), William Fox-Pitt (Tamarillo), Pippa Funnell (Primmore's Pride) and Leslie Law (Shear L'Eau).

lWATCH out for a new name in equestrian sport from Clapham village. Georgina Somerset has been competing in France against Europe's best juniors '” and making her mark.