British juniors secure bronze
26-31 July
FEI European Jumping Championships for young riders, juniors and children-on-horses, Millstreet, Ireland,
RESSURE, tough courses and strong competition — these championships had it all.
Britain’s junior squad landed a bronze medal in a high-octane, nerve-racking, three-way jumpoff. At halfway, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands were on zero with Britain, Belgium and France just one fence adrift on four faults.
But the leaders fell back in round two and Britain bounced up the order. Pathfinder Leonie Aitkenhead, cool under pressure, repeated her initial clear on Clane K, and Scarlett Charles improved on her round-one eight faults with four aboard Sacree Du Rouet.
Emily Ward, on four, uncharacteristically returned on eight with Remi Cavalleri.
“The final fence plopped off after Remi had taken a stride towards the finish, and it was the difference between gold and a jump-off,” said chef d’equipe Alan Fazakerley.
The pressure was on Harry Charles. A clear meant a jumpoff, but any fault would drop Britain out of the medals. Harry fully justified his anchor place, storming home with a double clear on Controe.
Scarlett delivered a muchneeded clear in the jump-off on the 10-year-old Sacree following Leonie’s opening eight faults. But Emily and Harry both returned eight and Britain took bronze on 16 faults.
“We dug deep and almost had gold,” said Alan, who had instructed Emily and Harry to push on time as the second Belgian rider posted a fast clear and their last rider, Gilles Thomas — later crowned individual gold medallist — is notoriously quick. “Emily’s horse is more grand prix than speed horse and going fast upset his rhythm.”
Harry had to go at breakneck
Pspeed, but afterwards Belgian Simon Morssinkhof was disqualified under the FEI’s ‘blood rule’ due to spur marks,” said Alan. “If we’d known, we’d have changed tactics to steady clears, but at halfway, with five teams on zero, we’d have been happy with bronze. Who would have thought they’d have fallen back like they did?”
Both on eight, Belgium proved quicker than Italy by more than four seconds to take gold.
Leonie posted Britain’s best individual result with ninth on Clane K. Belgium’s Gilles Thomas was clear every day with
Indiana VH Kapelhof for gold.
‘Luck wasn’t with us’
THE British children-on-horses squad finished outside the medals in equal fourth.
Spain had returned on zero in the final round and deservedly claimed gold, but a fight was on for silver and bronze.
Pathfinder Sienna Charles,
13, dismissed any nerves to post a second clear aboard the nineyear-old Chaitanya 2. Lily Freeman-Attwood boosted Britain’s chances, improving on her four faults with a clear on Banana D’Ive Z.
The pressure intensified and clears were crucial, but uncharacteristically, Ellie Hall-McAteer — carrying four faults — came home with five on Dazzle II. The pressure was on Olli Fletcher.
A clear was needed to join Germany and Italy in a threeway jump-off. Olli looked set to deliver with the nine-year-old Temple Rebus, but the penultimate rail fell along with British hopes. Britain, on an eight-fault total, took equal fourth with Hungary.
“We’d got three clears in the bag on day one, and our riders were outstanding on Nations Cup day, but luck wasn’t with us. But I wasn’t disappointed — not getting a medal wasn’t through lack of talent or bad riding,” said Alan. Following a jump-off, Germany claimed silver with Italy in bronze.
The best Brits in the children’s individual were Lily FreemanAttwood on Banana D’I’ve Z and Olli Fletcher with Temple Rebus, their four faults on Nations Cup day keeping them off the podium.
Irish gold
IN the young riders, Ireland celebrated with gold on five faults. Michael G Duffy scored clear and one fault on Felix XXVIII, Matt Garrigan jumped clear and four on Contino 56, Max O’Reilly Hyland came home on clear and eight with Ahmed Du Calvaire and Gavin Harley posted seven and clear on Understone Van De Kapel.
Britain’s team of Tim Wilks (Quelbora Merze), Millie Allen (Balou Star), Jake Saywell (Grand Cru Van Paemel) and Emma O’Dwyer (HHS Figero) finished ninth on 32 faults. H&H