Northamptonshire vaulter named in 2010 British Equestrian Vaulting Team

British Equestrian Vaulting (BEV) has today selected Lydia Barham as one of the Team GBR vaulters who will compete at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA.

Northants vaulter Lydia (15) is one of 11 vaulters – seven senior team members, and 4 individual vaulters – who will attend the games, which will be held at The Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky between the 25th September to the 10th October.

The English Vaulting Squad 2009 British Advanced Team Champions.

Vaulting is best described as a form of gymnastics on the back of a moving horse which is worked on a circle under the control of a lunger. Through choreographed movements, it incorporates beauty and brilliance, power and strength, elegance and precision, all in harmony with the horse.

Lydia, a pupil at Prince William School, Oundle, started vaulting with the English Vaulting Squad four years ago and most recently represented GBR at the European Championships in Malmo, Sweden in August. Her family lived in Stamford for 10 years and are pleased by the link now with the American company Alltech, who have their UK offices in Ryhall Rd, Stamford.

A spokesperson from Alltech UK said, “We are delighted that Lydia has been selected to represent Britain for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games next year. Whilst Alltech is a global company and we are extremely proud to be associated with the Games, we at the UK office will obviously be following the British teams with great interest. It’s a very exciting time for all of us and we would like to wish Lydia and her team mates every success.”
Lydia is currently a beneficiary of a Sportsaid award and receives funding from her local village trust fund for talented athletes; this supports her training costs but will only be of small help as the squad will need to raise in excess of £60,000 to travel to the games.

On receiving news of her selection, Lydia said: “We have been working towards this selection for the past 2 years and I am very excited – it will certainly be a fantastic experience and a great opportunity to compete against the best vaulting teams in the world. We have some hard work ahead of us”

Having hosted the 2nd selection trial for BEV, The Equestrian Centre at Moulton College, Northampton now have plans to become involved more regularly with vaulting. Commercial manager, Robbie Speirs said, “We have been very impressed by what we see vaulting can offer in terms of sports participation with horses to a wide cross section of young people. Our students have already had unique opportunities to work with British Squad Coaches and Athletes and have really enjoyed the experience. We are now looking at the grassroots and Excellence opportunities that may be offered at the college both for students and young People across Northamptonshire.”

“I am delighted to welcome Lydia to the British Vaulting Team for the World Games,” said Lucy Bell, Chef d’equipe BEV.  “The squad has been very strong throughout 2009 making a real impact on the international circuit. It is a particularly significant and exciting time in British vaulting following our first ever Championship Gold medal for Joanne Eccles this year. We have selected early for 2010, partly to give as much time as we can for preparation for the vaulters and their horses, but also to allow as much time as possible to raise the funds.”

An online auction - http://auction.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk/ - has been set up to help raise funds to send the British team to the World Equestrian Games in 2010.  All proceeds from this auction will go towards sending the team to the Games and supporting them in their quest to compete and win on the World stage. Top level UK vaulting coaches will also be working together to create as much opportunity as possible to allow these vaulters to succeed. Look out for further fundraising opportunities at www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk.

“I am delighted for Lydia”, said senior coach Julie Newell. “She and her team mates have all been working very hard for the past two years to be selected for Kentucky. I am extremely proud of them and really excited about the challenge ahead of us.

Senior vaulting team
•    Emma Runge (22) Buckinghamshire
•    Sarah Reid (19) Worcestershire
•    Sara Shortland (16) Derbyshire
•    Steph Hunter (16) Lincolnshire
•    Lydia Barham (15) Northamptonshire
•    Paige Brown (12) Hampshire
•    Megan Bignell (11) Warwickshire

Image caption
The English Vaulting Squad 2009 British Advanced Team Champions.

The team consisting of Sara Shortland (16), Emma Runge (22), Stephanie Hunter (15), Sarah Reid (19), Lydia Barham (14), Paige Brown (12) and Megan Bignell (10) performed a solid set of compulsories and entertaining freestyle to clinch this year’s Championship, the first time since 1998 that an English club has won the trophy. They were assisted by team horse Go for Gold and lunged by Julie Newell.

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