The British team L to R: Tim Page, Holly Gillott, Che d’Equipe Di Lampard, Harriet Nuttall and Jessie Drea.
Photo: Annette Boe ¯stergaard/FEI
The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has today, 5 February 2015, named Di Lampard as the new Performance Manager for Jumping. Di will step up from her current role as Team GBR Co-Selector and deputy Chef d’Equipe for Nations Cup jumping teams (a position she has held since 2010) to lead, develop and manage the Jumping Programmes within the UK Sport National Lottery funded World Class Programme.
Di will start her new role with immediate effect, using her extensive experience within the sport to pick up responsibility for the structure, management and coaching provision of the GBR senior Jumping Team. She will lead a dedicated group of athletes, grooms and owners and work closely with World Class colleagues and British Showjumping with the primary aim of delivering podium places at championship level. In doing so the former international showjumper from Rutland will become the first female Performance Manager in British Equestrian Sport and one of the very few on the international circuit.
World Class Performance Director Dan Hughes commented: “The European Championships this summer will provide the final opportunity for the Jumping team to achieve Olympic qualification for the 2016 Games. It was therefore essential we found a new Performance Manager as quickly as possible to provide a smooth transition.
“Di’s credentials as a showjumping rider, coach, selector and Chef d’Equipe, coupled with her extensive knowledge of the sport, made a compelling case. Her reputation is second to none and her attitude and approach make her exactly the right person for the job. We know she’ll be able to hit the ground running and focus quickly on the immediate challenges of Olympic qualification and achieving podium places for Team GBR in 2016. I warmly congratulate her on her appointment and welcome her to Team GBR and the World Class fold with open arms.”
Commenting on her appointment Di Lampard said: “I feel proud and honoured to be appointed as the Jumping Performance Manager within the World Class Programme. I want to ignite the fire and passion of London 2012 to achieve success, our immediate goal being qualification for Rio in 2016. We will only do this with a no compromise approach and by creating a strong team spirit through open communication and transparency with riders, owners and support staff.
“Meanwhile we will look to support the World Class Development Programme athletes, giving these young riders the opportunities to integrate into the experience of the Team GBR squad. We will look to contribute a wider foundation of new horses and involve a larger pool of owners in developing the all-important horsepower we need to achieve success. Rob [Hoekstra] has left the position in great shape having seen British showjumping through one of their most successful periods and I am delighted to take over the reins.”
Iain Graham, Chief Executive for British Showjumping commented: “We are highly delighted at Di’s appointment. Her extensive knowledge of the sport and its structure within Great Britain accompanied by her depth of understanding in respect of top level international performance can only bode to serve us well in this all important year. Di ‘s personable strength of character has already seen her build a tremendous rapport with our team owners and riders and we look forward to supporting and working alongside her.”
Di has comprehensive experience of operating in a high performance culture and is no stranger to top level competition herself. During her career she was awarded numerous accolades, standing leading lady rider for eight years and representing Great Britain in two World Equestrian Games, two European Championships and around 50 Nations Cup Teams. Over the last 30 years she and her husband, Dietmar Ackermann, have developed their equestrian facility at Spring Farm into a centre of excellence for coaching and the development of young horses. Di has worked with jumping’s youth teams since 1996 and was appointed British Showjumping Consultant Head of Training in 2002.
Di succeeds her former colleague Rob Hoekstra who left the position 1 January 2015 to take up new challenges in the sport having been at the helm since 2010.