Local Scottish talent and leading young rider Wills Oakden has been called up from the wait list to represent Great Britain at the imminent Longines FEI European Championships at Blair Castle.
Unfortunately Waltham Fiddlers Find, ridden by Tom Jackson and owned by Ian and Sara Jackson and athlete, has met with a “slight setback” which will prevent him from travelling to the competition in two weeks time.
As a result, the Eventing Senior Selectors for Great Britain have called up 25-year-old Wills, who is based at Dunbog, outside Newburgh, as the next named reserve.
He will ride the Scottish-bred 12-year-old mare Greystone Midnight Melody, owned by Mr David Kenwright and Sylvia Douglas, with which he snared second place within the Scottish Championships at Blair Castle in 2014.
Eventing performance manager, Yogi Breisner commented: “As always we have ups and downs in the sport.
“It’s very sad that Tom’s horse has been found not fit enough to be going. He is a young and very talented rider with a horse we’re very excited about for the future which is another reason we didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks.”
Whilst the news will be heartbreaking for Tom and his connections, there has already been widespread support for the selection of Wills, who will become the only Scottish rider to compete on ‘home soil’ for 2015.
Commenting on his selection, Wills said he was “delighted” but having forged a friendship with fellow athletes during his World Class Training Programme, he also said that Tom was “the last person” he would have wanted to replace.
“We’ve trained together throughout the winter and become really good friends. I’m so disappointed for him on a personal level, but obviously the silver lining provides both myself and my owners David and Sylvia with one of the biggest achievements of our lives.”
Indeed, David and Sylvia bred Greystone Midnight Melody (or Molly as she is known at home) themselves, out of Killmacknock. She is sired by their own stallion Greystone Pathfinder, which was also competed at British Eventing by Wills.
“We all dreamed of this happening, but really never allowed ourselves to dream of it becoming reality,” commented Wills.
He paid particular credit to his World Class Programme trainers Jenny Hall, Sarah Verney and Angela Tucker for taking him under their wing and improving everything from his performance to his yard management.
“It’s also an amazing reward for all of the team at home,” Wills added. “It will mean alot to everyone – from our farrier David Wilson to vets Loch Leven, my equine physio Maeve Sheridan and personal physio Barbara Laing and of course my groom Sarah Murray.”
“It’ll be an exciting 10 days before we make the 40 mile trip north to Blair.”
Wills and Molly, who are supported by the Institute of Sport in Scotland, will now represent Great Britain alongside William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell, Oliver Townend, Nicola Wilson, Francis Whittington, Laura Collett, Dani Evans, Kitty King, Gemma Tattersall, Izzy Taylor and Holly Woodhead.
The European Championships take place from September 10 to 14 at Blair Atholl.