Rain stops play at under-25 Europeans
THE individual freestyle final at the FEI under-25 European Championships (30 August-3 September) was abandoned part-way through due to electrical failure — which meant all competitors shared the prize pot.
Despite heavy rain lashing the competition venue in Lamprechtshausen, Austria, the individual and team finals had already taken place, with Germany dominating.
Lisa-Maria Klossinger on FBW Daktari won individual gold, and helped her German team-mates to gold, ahead of the Netherlands and Sweden. Britain did not send any riders.
“A disaster” was how Nicky Barrett, who was at the show as a trainer, summed up the event, which is now in its second year.
The first few riders in the freestyle to music completed their tests without major mishap — though there was some crackling heard — but during the ride of Sweden’s Mathilde Hannell on Deela Mae, the sound problems intensified. She managed to finish her test to a mixture of her own and other riders’ music, but her coach Jan Brink remonstrated with the technical delegate Freddy Leyman and the ground jury.
There followed extensive delays, during which no information was provided to riders, while organisers and the ground jury debated how to proceed. The decision was taken to continue in silence, and award all competitors the same music mark. Protestations followed, prompting its abandonment.
“We tried to make the best of it, but it was a disaster and the riders were understandably devastated,” said Nicky Barrett. “It was such a pity for the competitors. If you’re running a European Championship, you’ve got to have contingency plans in place.
“There were only speakers at one end of the arena, and there was not a single person on site to check the music should it fail. You can’t run a championships like that; this should’ve been avoided.”
Bettina de Rham, the FEI dressage director, said: “The freestyle final… was cancelled following extensive rainfall, which ultimately resulted in complete electricity system failure at the event. The FEI is currently assessing next steps for this championships.”
The organisers apologised publicly and made the decision to distribute the €5,000 prize pot equally to all 18 riders.
The FEI declined to comment further on the issue.