• Rebecca Norval (12) Alloa
• Helen Anderson (15) Houston
• Yasmin Williamson (14) Rosyth
• Brogan Moffat (15) Bonnybridge
• Cassandra Mailwraith (14) Stirling
• Andrew Mclachlan (14) Tillicoultry
• Hannah Young (12) Cumbernauld
• Amy Gullen (10) Muckhart

Horse – WH Bentley

Lunger/Coach:  John Eccles

Profile:  John Eccles

Lunger for Team GBR Junior Team Lunger.

John was bought up on a farm and the family had their own pony so he started riding when he was eight years old. He had an uncle from London who was a jockey and taught him to canter along the field and jump on and off from both sides – as you see in some cowboy films! His first pony was called Zara and the second, Jimmy Wexford (he was called this after a visit to London and to the Queen’s stables. Jimmy Wexford was supposed to be one of the Queens favourite horses).

John’s first competitive experience as a lunger was at Saumur 2002, lunging individuals. John says he has learnt a lot from different lungers and vaulting coaches, but was probably most influenced by Anita Flammand-Prochaska. His most admired lungers and vaulters are Alexander Hartl, Lasse Kristensen, Kai Vorgern and Nadia Zulow.

Lives:

Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire.

Born:

3rd April 1958

Major Championship Achievements:

2006: Helped to train and lunge the British senior team to 5th place at WEG, Aachen,
2008: Helped to train and lunge the British senior team to 6th place at the European Championships, Brno

Recent Major Achievements:

Joanne coming first in Saumur 2007 and Joanne and Hannah coming first in the Senior and Junior classes at the CVI in Ermelo 2008.

Team Members – Joscelin Craig, Helen Anderson, Rebecca Norval, Brogan Moffat, Cassandra MaIlwraith, Yazmin Williamson and Andrew MaClaclan. Team ranked 6th at the European Championships Brno and 1st in Britain. As the team was only put together on the 24th Feb 2008, we were delighted to win both selection trials to be selected to represent GB, achieving 6th place at the 2008 European Championships in Brno and 1st place at the British and Scottish Championships. One proud moment was lunging a Columbian boy in Sao Paulo on a Brazilian horse who came second, and a Brazilian Junior Team who came third.

Top horse(s):

Top horse(s):W H Bentley (Henry), Baroque, (Brock), Tylers Kernel (Tyke), and Anton (the animal). Henry and Brock are our established horses. Tyke and Anton are learning and will be our horses for the future

Proudest moment to date:

Helping to train and lunging the British senior team to 5th place at WEG, Aachen, 2006. Joanne coming first in Saumur 2007 and Joanne and Hannah coming first in the Senior and Junior classes at the CVI in Ermelo 2008.

Trainer:

I have learnt from lots of different lungers and vaulting coaches but have been most influenced by Anita Flammand-Prochaska

Most admired rider / Lunger / Vaulter:

Alexander Hartl, Lasse Kristensen, Kai Vorberg and Nadia Zulow

Most admired sportsman/woman (non-equestrian):

After 2008, it has to be Chris Hoy the cyclist

Qualities you look for in a horse:

A Honest face and bright eye. A horse that I feel that I can trust in and that he trusts in me. Rymical canter. A horse that likes vaulters. And a horse that smells nice (yes I did say smells nice).

Favourite competition venues:

I love all the venues that I have been to so far. For me it is the people involved in the sport that make the venues great

Favourite meal:

Steak and Chips

Favourite drink:

Red Bull whilst driving the lorry. Whisky at New Year. A nice bottle of wine with a meal.
Superstitions:My lucky numbers are 1, 3, and 13 but I would still not feel safe walking under a ladder.

Best advice you’ve ever been given:

Be all you can be. If an opportunity arises take it as it may never arise again. Work to live don’t live to work

Who would you most like to have dinner with:

My wife (even after almost 25 years of marriage)

Ideal holiday:

It has to be Skiing just to prove I am still faster and can beat the rest of the family!!!

Favourite TV programme:

Any World Affairs programmes

Favourite book:

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Favourite film:

Any action movie

Favourite band/singer:

I like lots of everything modern and classical