It is with regret that Team Griffiths Eventing must announce that Sam Griffiths is withdrawing Paulank Brockagh from the Australian Eventing Team going to the FEI World Equestrian Games.

“Brocks sustained a minor injury in her final preparations and will not be fit to travel.”

“She will recuperate and then be prepared for Badminton 2019. Sam and Team Griffiths wish the Australian Eventing Team the very best of luck,” said Sam Griffiths.

They finished fourth individually at the 2016 Rio Olympics and were 16th at the 2014 WEG in Caen, France. The withdrawal will be a huge disappointment to the team, Sam and Brocks were a combination to be reckoned with.   The withdrawal does mean that 30-year-old Emma McNab has received the call up to replace Sam on the Australian Eventing Team for next month’s FEI World Equestrian Games. She will compete with her 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Fernhill Tabasco.

Formerly from Chinchilla in country Queensland, McNab has been based in the UK since 2012 and said her inclusion in the Australian Eventing Team was the realisation of a childhood dream.

“Firstly, I am sad for Sam and his horse hopefully she will be back on track soon.”

“This is something I have been working towards for my entire riding career and it’s amazing it’s happening now.”

“I’m pleased for my horse he’s such a lovely horse as I have had him since he was first broken in,” said McNab.

McNab and Fernhill Tabasco will join the Australian Eventing Team Camp that starts this Thursday in the UK. Fernhill Tabasco will be flown out of Belgium to Tryon in the USA on September 5.