Tuesday, 17 August 2021
Two leading British riders, Nicola Thorne and Carmine Villani, selected to represent Team GB as individuals at FEI European Championships in Ermelo in The Netherlands (6-11 September)
Nicola Thorne, 50, riding her Polish-bred Arabian mare Kamilcia is set to represent Great Britain at a World or European Championship for the six consecutive time having ridden at senior level at the European Championships at Samorin (2015), Brussels (2017) and Euston Park (2019) and at the World Championships at Samorin in 2016 and at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in 2018 – her best result was at Samorin in 2015, where she finished 31st with LR Bold Greyson. Nicki’s Ermelo ride, 12-year-old Kamilcia, (Maciwoda x Kabala), is a consistent performer with fourth placings in the FEI 120km class at Royal Windsor Endurance in May and in the FEI 140km class at Lavenham last year. The pair came eighth in the FEI 160km class at Euston Park back in 2019.
Nicki runs the Akala Arabians stables in Thetford, England. She breeds and sells Arabian horses and offers rehabilitation services for horses.
Nicki, a former Chair of Endurance GB, said of achieving her sixth opportunity to compete for her country: “It is hard to put into words what it means to represent one’s country, it is the stuff of childhood dreams, hopes, aspirations and the culmination of failure and success that is inherent in any sport. I cannot begin to express how special it is.
“Mousey may not at first glance look your typical endurance horse, and she may not be the fastest on the course, but her recovery is consistent between the loops, she is a strong and tough sort of mare, and just keeps steadily going.
“We have been together a long time, so I know her race personality very well. She knows the job at hand and is reliable, so any change to how she should be would be picked up by myself early on, meaning we are both able to look after each other in a race.”
Ranked number one in the FEI World Rankings in 2020, the first British rider to hold the Year World Rankings title, Carmine Villani, 56, also enjoys the accolade of being the first rider to carry the individual and horse combination title. Carmine, who has been competing in the sport for 15 years, has been selected to line up in British colours for the first time with his 12-year-old gelding Vatou De Gargassan ( Nabab De Gargassan x Doushka). Based near Littlehampton in Sussex, Carmine brings with him a wealth of international competition experience in the USA, Latin America, the Gulf and across Europe. Carmine and Vatou De Gargassan completed the FEI 160km class at Castelgrat in France back in June and in the build-up to Ermelo will be based in France near Bordeaux.
Summing up the combination’s strengths Carmine said: “It is down to determination and the will to never give up. We will be approaching the race in Ermelo conservatively at the start and I think our prospects are good, my philosophy is that to finish well is to win.”
Lindsay Wilson, Chair of International said: “We are delighted that both Nicki and Carmine, together with their crews, are set to travel to The Netherlands to represent Britain as individuals. They are both extremely experienced riders with a track record of successful completions that speaks for itself. Both the horses they are taking are consistent performers and we will all wish them well as they fly the flag for their country.”
Phil Nunnerley, Chair of Endurance GB said: “We are pleased to have two such strong ambassadors for Endurance GB planning to line up at the European Championships, subject to conditions in The Netherlands being safe for them and their crews to do so. I know, particularly after this difficult 18 months, that the whole sport will be behind Nicki and Carmine willing them on.”