WILLIAM FLETCHER FINISHES WITH JUST ONE TIME FAULT IN BRAZIL
Sunday 15 December 2013
14 year-old William Fletcher, competing in the FEI Children’s International Classics Final earlier this afternoon in Brazil, put in a brilliant round on his borrowed horse, SL Saltimbanco IV whom he was drawn to ride at the start of the competition on Thurday.
The only rider to leave all fences standing across the four rounds of competition, Will’s parents Graham and Tina Fletcher were delighted with his performance. SL Saltibanco most certainly wasn’t the easiest of horses to ride and was also the youngest in the championships, so having produced faultess rounds throughout Thursday and Friday Will felt the best thing to do would be take his time and go for a clear rather than push him against the clock.
His strategy paid off as they came through the finish with all fences left untouched, however a time penalty accrued when they stopped the clock just outside the time allowed saw their chances of being placed high up in the line-up evaporate. With many of the jump off riders having the advantage of competing their own horses they were able to push up the pace and take risks that the visiting riders wouldn’t have been able to.
As the class drew to a close, Will was called into the arena in 10th place. The experience that the children on horses Final gives young visiting riders such as Will and also, Charlie Jones (14) whom unfortunately didn’t make the final, is vast. Not only the experience of travelling and competing abroad at international level, but also the added pressure of being allocated a horse the day before the competition starts and only having 24 hours to try and build a partnership with them before the opening speed leg of the championships.
Will was accompanied by his mother, Tina, whom was the reserve rider for London 2012 where GB won Team Gold. Tina commented “The boys have had a wonderful experience out here and the standard is incredibly high”. At home, Will’s father and former Olympian Graham Fletcher who was keeping in touch via telephone throughout the championships expressed his pride at how well Will had tackled the task by producing clean jumping rounds each day.
For more information on the final please visit www.shbr.com.br
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