Two British teams in 2021?

Carl Hester is excited about the idea of having two championships next year

- Polly Bryan

BACK in 2005, Hagen stepped in to host a fantastic European Championships after the original venue, Moscow, fell short on financing. This year, Hagen hosted the first national then international shows after Germany came out of lockdown.

The organisers there are an adaptive force and it would take this sort of mobilisation if the FEI takes the sensible approach suggested by the European Equestrian Federation for 2021 and holds a European Championship, whether or not the Olympics go ahead. This is also something I suggested in my June column and Richard Davison reinforced in his recent interview (3 September).

I’d join Richard in the “delighted” camp if there were to be two championships next year. Britain, along with other nations, has the strength in depth potentially to field two top teams. That is a great thing for our sport.