Who is going to ride for Iceland and win titles? Every two years, people are waiting eagerly for the nominations – most of being the result of previous achievments in sporting events. Riders must be Icelandic citizens but can live abroad. Often the horses are successful sport horses abroad. However, Iceland is not keen on exporting its very best athletes.
The Icelandic national team at the presentation of the nations. Photo: Dagmar Trodler/Iceland Review.
Eidfaxi.is presented the team in detail in its July issue:
Jóhann Rúnar Skúlason with Hnokki frá Fellskot – both live in Denmark, Jóhann is a five-time world champion in tölt.
Bergþór Eggertsson with Lótus frá Aldenghoor – both live in Germany and are the current world champion in 250 m pace.
Jakob S. Sigurðsson with Alur frá Lundum – both from Iceland. Jakob has trained Alur from an early age and has proven highly successful with the horse in Iceland. He is a qualified riding instructor from Hólar University.
Haukur Tryggvason with Hetta frá Ketilsstöðum – both live in Germany and are filling in for Daniel Jónsson with Oliver frá Kvistum who happened to fall ill last week. With Hetta, Haukur became German champion in five-gait. The pair is in their first show round year.
Eyjólfur Þorsteinsson with Kraftur frá Efri-Þverá – both from Iceland. Eyjólfur is one of Iceland’s most successful riders. Also a trained riding instructor from Hólar University.
Karen Lindal Marteinsdóttir with Týr frá Þverá II – both from Iceland, both new to the tournament circuit. Karen is a freshly-baked riding instructor from Hólar, the two were selected for the national team after delivering a good performance during Íslandsmót, the national championships.
Viðar Ingólfsson with Hrannar frá Skyggnir – both from Iceland. They proved a successful team in the preliminary round.
Hinrik Bragarson with Smyrill frá Hrísum – both from Iceland. Hinrik is an experienced competition rider and has been successful, especially in tölt, in the last two years.
Guðlaug Marín Guðnadóttir with Toppur frá Skarði – both live in Denmark and will compete in pace.
Sigursteinn Sumarliðasson with Skuggi frá Hofi I – both from Iceland. They were chosen quite late for the team after successful performances in the recent summer tournaments.
Young riders:
Arnar Bjarki Sigurðarson with Arnar frá Blesastöðum 2 A – both from Iceland. Arnar has completed a trainer’s education at Hólar. He has a lot of experience for such a young rider; he was a member of the national team in 2011. Arnar (the horse) is an elite stallion.
Flosi Ólafsson with Möller frá Blesastöðum 1 A – both from Iceland (but not from the same farm) were paired recently and might surprise the audience with their performance. Möller is an elite stallion.
Gústaf Ásgeir Hinriksson with Björk frá Enni – both from Iceland. Gústaf is only 17 years old and has only competed at one large tournament with Björk. Björk is an elite mare.
Konráð Valur Sveinsson with Þórdís frá Lækjarbotnum – both are from Iceland and pace specialists.
Arna Ýr Guðnadóttir and Þróttur frá Fróni – both from Iceland. They have proven an established and successful team in recent tournaments.
We wish all riders fair play in the track and a successful tournament.
Dagmar Trodler reports for Iceland Review from Berlin.
