Sport Local girl going for gold in Switzerland
Great Heck's 15-year-old Emma Stoker, one of the current stars of British pony show jumping, has again made the GB Pony European Championship team.
The home-tutored teenager, who was on the Pony European squad in Germany last year, has been named on the British team with the bay gelding Peron III, who will be making his debut at this level.
Emma will be hoping for better luck than in 2007, when she made the long trip to Germany only for her ride Trefilan Talisman to fall ill.
"The pony jumped the first day in 2007 but had developed ulcers in his mouth - he didn't do any more at the competition and wasn't able to make the team that went on to win gold," explained Emma's stepfather Mr Andrew Parker.
"This time she'll be taking Peron, who was off for nine months last year with illness himself, but is now back in fine form."
The pair will travel to Avenches in Switzerland (competition runs to July 27th), where they will be joined by 2007 team gold medal winners Pippa Allen and James Smith, Jessie Drea, and George Whitaker, nephew of Olympic riders John and Michael Whitaker.
"Peron travels well - he just goes to sleep and acts as if he hasn't a care in the world," added Andrew. "He's been in good form in the European trials this season, jumping three clear rounds at Wales and West, and then went to the Moorsele Pony International in France, where he won team gold and finished fifth in the big Grand Prix class."
Emma then went well at the second Pony Trial at South View in Cheshire and proved successful at the Verden Pony International in Germany, where Peron gained a second and a fourth in strong company.
"The last Pony Trial was held at the Royal Show in Warwickshire this moth and Peron had a bit of a bad day at the office," Andrew admitted. "We thought he may have blown his chances but the selectors felt he had already proved himself and Emma made the team."
Her deserved selection has left Emma "exceptionally excited" about her trip to Switzerland and she was awarded a special 'Great Britain' saddle, from Devoucoux Saddlers, at the recent Great Yorkshire Show to take to the Championships.
"The saddle actually has a value of £4,500 and is quite something," Andrew concluded. "I have to say I think the pressure on these young riders is quite something, as Britain has won ten team gold medals in the last eleven years and there are high expectations.
"I played rugby professionally but I don't believe I could have coped the way Emma does at 15."
The Pony Team is supported by John Whitaker International, the World Class Development Programme, who are Lottery funded through UK Sport.
Published on 17th July 2008 in Sport.
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