Alcester showjumper Skelton selected for Rio Olympics

SOUTH Warwickshire’s legendary showjumper Nick Skelton will appear in his seventh Olympic Games after being selected for Great Britain’s equestrian team for Rio.

Skelton, who is based near Alcester, has been named in a jumping team that features huge amount of Olympic pedigree.

The 58-year-old is set to return on Big Star, aiming for a repeat of Team GB’s London 2012 heroics where Skelton’s team clinched gold.

Joining him will be 2012 team-mate Ben Maher, on Tic Tac, and brothers John and Michael Whitaker. Six-time Olympian John Whitaker will compete on Ornellaia, while Michael, who competes in his fifth Games, will compete aboard Cassionato.

Jessica Mendoza, on Spirit, has been selected as the travelling reserve.

As expected, the Queen’s grand-daughter Zara Tindall has missed out on selection for the dressage team.

In 2012, Tindall won silver, but she has failed to make the shortlist this time around.

Team GB was the most successful nation in equestrian events in 2012, winning three golds, one silver and a bronze across the three disciplines.

Team GB squad — Eventing: William Fox-Pitt, Kitty King, Gemma Tattersall, Isabelle (Izzy) Taylor, reserve: Pippa Funnell MBE; Dressage: Fiona Bigwood, Charlotte Dujardin OBE, Carl Hester MBE, Spencer Wilton, reserve: Lara Griffith; Jumping: Ben Maher MBE, Nick Skelton OBE, John Whitaker MBE, Michael Whitaker, reserve: Jessica Mendoza.