last updated on July 31, 2006 01:00

There was great excitement in the British camp after Samantha Harrison and Manitu N led the British pony team into fourth place by finishing fourth in the team test with a score of 72.21% at the European Pony Championships in Saumur, France, 27-30 July 2006.

However, this turned to huge disappointment as Manitu went lame just 10mins before he was due to start in the individual competition, thereby losing the chance of winning bronze.

Chef d’equipe Islay Auty said: “We’ll never know what happened, perhaps Manitu knocked himself, but we had to pull him out anyway. This was Samantha’s third and last year on the pony team and the closest she’s ever been to winning a medal. Samantha and Manitu produced two outstanding performances in the warm-up and team tests. It was a bitter pill to swallow and unbelievably devastating for everyone, particularly Samantha.”

Germany’s Lydia Camp and Dulcia won individual gold. Another German, Louisa Lüttgen and Dornik B took silver while Holland’s Angela Krooswijk and Power And Paint went home with bronze. As expected, Germany won team gold, while Holland took silver and Denmark bronze.
 
Two other British riders went through to the individual ride-off: Alexandra Barr and Natasha Leak. Alexandra Barr and Devito finished 13th, moving up from 15th place in the team test. They were originally reserves and only called up a week before the competition.

Auty said: “They are not so experienced – this was the first time on a team for them – but were absolutely outstanding.”

Natasha Leak was another team debutante and the youngest member at only 12. She rode DHI Langar to finish 14th in the individual ride-off and team competition.

Auty said: “They have made a fabulous start to their international career and it bodes well for the future as they have another four years in ponies.”

Alice Thompson, who was on the bronze medal-winning team last year, competed on her new ride for the season, Donnerblitz. They had enjoyed two successful international shows this season, scoring 70% in the team competition at Le Touquet in June, but had a disappointing start in the warm-up competition here, finishing equal 22nd with 66.05%.

“They did not score as high in the prelim as we had hoped and then, sadly, were unable to make up ground and re-establish their position in the team competition,” said Auty.