Charlie celebrates success at FEI World Cup
A dressage rider on the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) World Class Development Programme has triumphed in the B Final of the FEI World Cup for Young Riders in Frankfurt.
Charlie Hutton (20), from Cirencester, won the B Final on his horse Merlin Nemorensis on Sunday 20 December against thirteen fellow competitors. Charlie came 9th on the first day of the Young Riders Team Test and 8th on the second day. The top group of competitors go through to the A final, which Charlie missed out on by only 0.5%. He then competed in the B final, performing a freestyle, which he won by just under 3%.
The FEI World Cup is a competition for young riders from around the world, including competitors from Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, Canada, USA, France, Belgium and New Zealand.
Charlie said: ‘I’m delighted to have won to have won the B Final. I achieved some great scores in the last two days, which gives me a lot of confidence for the future. I really enjoyed taking part and look forward to further competitions in 2010.’
Charlie began competing internationally in 2005 and is based at the Talland School of Equitation, where he rides up to ten horses a day and teaches. Charlie is part of the BEF’s World Class Development Programme, which aims to provide Britain's elite riders with the best preparation to represent Equestrian Team GBR at International level. Funded by UK Sport, the Programme incorporates the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing, show jumping and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage.
Selection to the World Class Programme is based on results combined with potential to contribute to team success at major championships. Performance is continuously assessed and riders are regularly reviewed. The Programme is divided into Development (Start and Potential), and Performance squads across each discipline.
The Programme has been funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, primarily from the National Lottery, via UK Sport since 1998.
To see Charlie in action at the British Dressage National Championships visit the Horse Hero website here