Jack To Compete In The Usa This Summer

Jack Stephens has been selected to represent the UK in a Tetrathlon International Exchange competition in July. He is one of a team of four boys who will be travelling to the United States competing in North and South Carolina. The final competition will be held at the Tryon International Equestrian Centre where the World Equestrian Games will be held later in the Summer.

The International Exchange competition takes place every two years and this year the USA have invited one team of four boys and one team of four girls from the UK and participating countries. Invitations to apply for selection were sent to the top 15 boys on the 2017 open boys ranking list. Applicants sent in written applications and references last Autumn having also trained to pass a riding and theory test last summer. In February this year they attended a show jumping assessment where they had to show jump two different horses they’d never ridden before to replicate the competition in America. They were also interviewed by a panel of assessors to ascertain their ambassadorial and team skills.

Jack, a keen tetrathlete, in the last four years has been three times winner at the UK Championships and runner up in 2017. He is delighted to have been selected and is looking forward to travelling to America for two weeks for a mixture of sight seeing and competitions.

Tetrathlon comprises swimming for 4 minutes, air pistol shooting at a turning target, a 3000 metre cross country run and cross country riding over a variety of 20 jumps up to 1.10 metres. The competition in the States will vary from the UK and be similar to Modern Pentathlon, with a 200 metre optimum time swim, pentathlon style shooting targets, showjumping unknown horses, but the cross country run will stay at 3000 metres. Competitors compete both as a team and individually. The UK teams will have some time to train together at an Easter training camp – an exciting time awaits them! Best of luck to Jack and Team!