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The Duchess meets British equestrians before they leave for the Olympics at Hartbury College, Gloucestershire
24th July 2008
The Duchess of Cornwall wished Olympic equestrians "the best of British" today as they prepared to head for Hong Kong for this year's event.
Her Royal Highness, who is Patron of the British Equestrian Foundation (BEF), met British team members at Hartpury College, near Gloucester.
After a tour of the new arena on the campus, The Duchess arrived at Hartpury House for a reception with team members, medics and sponsors.
The Duchess was welcomed by Vice Lord Lieutenant for Gloucestershire Major John Eyre, Chairman of the British Equestrian Foundation Andrew Finding and a number of civic figures.
The Duchess chatted to team members who were without their horses, which are currently in quarantine.
After a speech from Toby Vintcent, director of international affairs for the BEF, The Duchess said a few words to the team members.
She said: "I wish everybody the best of British. So sit tight, and show the world that the British are best and come back with lots of medals."
Great Britain qualified the maximum quota of horses and riders for the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, a total of 12 horses and riders, with two reserve combinations for the Olympics and seven horses and riders for the Paralympics.
Dressage team member Jane Gregory, who will ride horse Lucky Star, said having a royal visit as a send off was "very special".
Her team heads off to Hong Kong on Wednesday night.
She said: "We've been enjoying our international success so much and never dared to hope we would be in contention for an Olympic team position.
"I have ridden Lucky Star since he was four-years-old, he is an extraordinary horse and we are both preparing to give this all we've got."
Lee Pearson, member of the para-equestrian dressage team, will ride his own horse Gentleman.
Mr Pearson, who has a large collection of Paralympic, European and World championship gold medals, said he chatted to The Duchess about his recent appearance on BBC documentary Olympic Dreams.
Mr Pearson, who suffers from arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a condition which caused the muscles in his arms and legs to grow as scar tissue in the womb, said he did not take his position on the team for granted despite two previous appearances at the Paralympics.
He said: "You can never take selection as a given and I am stunned and delighted to be nominated to go to my third Paralympics.
"I'm really looking forward to it - Gentleman is a young horse but he has been brilliant over the selection trials. The hard work really starts now though and I want to wrap him up in cotton wool."
The BEF is an umbrella organisation representing the interests of 4.2million riders, vaulters and carriage drivers. Founded in 1972 it is the largest representative body within the equestrian industry.