William Funnell is helping UAE get ready for Paris 2024 Olympics

Main British showjumper William Funnell is taking a step again from the game to tackle a brand new position as chef d’equipe for the United Arab Emirates showjumping workforce.

The four-time Hickstead Derby-winner and Eu workforce gold medallist will probably be coaching the UAE riders forward of the Paris 2024 Olympics, for which the country certified in Doha initially of this yr.

“I’ve taken at the process as instructor for the UAE workforce thru to Paris,” William advised H&H. “We’re within the procedure of establishing a brand new workforce of horses for the Olympics.”

William is already concerned with UAE-based Al Shira’aa and has labored with one of the vital UAE riders, describing it as “a excitement” to be concerned with them and seeing “the development of equestrianism within the UAE”.

The UAE squad had an excessively a success Asian Video games final month, coming house with workforce bronze, whilst Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi (Dalida Van De Zuuthoeve) and Abdulla Mohd Al Marri (James VD Oude Heihoef) gained particular person silver and bronze respectively – an ideal success within the run-up to an Olympics.

“We now have a skilled crew of 5 riders, who’ve been founded with me in Surrey for the reason that Asian Video games and we fly to the UAE on the finish of this month for a chain of displays, a four-star International locations Cup after which the hole qualifier for the new five-star Longines League of International locations, so we need to have a workforce able for that,” stated William, who will probably be assisted in his position by way of fellow showjumper and long-time buddy Duncan Inglis.

Paris 2024 Olympic showjumping: a medal is the objective

“We’ll make a marketing campaign for each and every horse and rider proper as much as the Olympics,” William stated. “It’s a pleasant center of attention and one thing I’m going to be dedicated to completely for the following seven or 8 months. I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t assume shall we move to Paris with a in point of fact just right likelihood of successful a medal. We now have numerous paintings to do, however that’s the objective.

“It got here on the proper time, as a result of I don’t assume I’ve a horse for Paris.”

William stated that he’ll proceed driving, however it’s going to need to take just a little of a again seat throughout this era. One key goal stays, alternatively.

“Confidently I’ll have sufficient time to stay my eye in and feature some other crack on the Hickstead Derby,” he stated.

• Learn extra from William in his unique H&H column on this week’s mag, in stores from Thursday, 16 November.

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her position as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her world wide reporting from displays and interviewing riders, connections and the ones concerned at the back of the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Recreation in 2005, she has written on each matter around the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to solid control — and has interviewed gold medallists, global champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand revel in of operating within the equestrian trade as a driving trainer and backyard supervisor.