Britain plans strong challenge

<p>Britain will send a strong team of 12 riders to Hong Kong for the Equestrian Events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. </p><p>And the team expects to be a serious contender for medals, having qualified in all three disciplines. The names of the riders will be announced in late May and June.</p><p>"We will be disappointed if we return home without any medals," said a smiling Mr Will Connell, the Equestrian Team Leader and Performance Director of the British Equestrian Federation during a two-day visit to Hong Kong under the auspices of the British Olympic Association (BOA). </p><p>However, he readily concedes that the competition will be tough with Germany and Holland, among others, having top-flight teams.</p><p>Britain won three Eventing medals – gold, silver and bronze -- at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.<br/>&nbsp;<br/>Mr Connell praises the arrangements being made in Hong Kong, and said his team will be fully prepared. He himself has been to Hong Kong several times, to check out progress in arrangements and facilities, since the Special Administrative Region was announced as the venue in 2005.</p><p>He said British equestrian officials feel that everything possible is being done to make the competition a success.</p><p>"The stables are more comfortable and better built than most stables at home, and with the air-conditioning that really helps the equine welfare side," he said.</p><p>"The arena surfaces worked very well during the test event and there's no reason why they shouldn't this summer and the cross-country course coped very well with a lot of rain, and that was brilliant.</p><p>"I think the biggest challenge on the facilities side is the space, but from a horse side and competition side the facilities are excellent, and certainly from the horse welfare side they are outstanding."</p><p>Mr Connell came to Hong Kong, via Beijing, after attending the FEI's ground-breaking workshop on "heat and humidity in Hong Kong" in Lausanne on February 17.</p><p>He described the workshop as invaluable, saying: "It was fantastic to have everyone dealing with the teams...the team managers and the vets...sitting down in the same room to discuss the various issues regarding the practical arrangements, the weather conditions and equine health."</p><p>"The&nbsp; feeling at the end of the day was yes, of course the climate is a challenge...flying horses for 14 or 15 hours is a challenge...everything has a challenge...but we have the expertise and the information, and we can make everything work."</p><p>Mr Connell said it is now up to the teams to go ahead with their preparations and training, and added: "Competing successfully at these Games is going to be as much about team management as competition."</p><p>Accompanying Mr Connell on his latest inspection of the equestrian venues and facilities were the Manager of the British Jumping Team, Mr Derek Ricketts, and the BOA's Olympic Operations Manager, Ms Sarah Johns.</p><p>

Britain plans strong challenge

<br/><font color="#888888">Mr Connell and his party visited the Equestrian Company during their visit. From left are: EqCo Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ms Miranda Chiu, Mr Ricketts, Ms Johns, EqCo Chief Executive Officer Mr Lam Woon-kwong, and Mr Connell.</font></p><div class="normal_grey" align="left">&nbsp;

Britain plans strong challenge

<br/><font color="#888888">Mr Connell and his party at the Sha Tin venue.</font>
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