News
British Youth riders prosper in Hungary
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Fri, 04 Sep 2020 10:15 GMT
The five British riders who represented Great Britain as individuals at the FEI Youth Championships in Hungary gained both invaluable championship experience and some promising individual results. All the FEI Dressage European Championships for Youth (U25, Young Riders, Juniors, Children and Ponies) were consolidated and took place in Budapest Region – Pilisjászfalu, from 11 – 27 August 2020.
FEI Young Rider European Championships
During the first week, British Young Rider, Alicia Lee (21) made a great impression on her championship debut with the super-talented 11 year old mare Bonita 466 (Benetton Dream x Prince Thatch) - pictured above. In the Team test, the pair rode a test full of energy and confidence from the start to the final centre line for a score of 69.67% and 17th place; and another good performance for 69.50% and 17th in the Individual earned them a place in the Freestyle final.
The Herefordshire rider faced disappointment the day before the Freestyle when Bonita overreached before the second horse inspection. This unfortunate knock brought her 2020 championship campaign to an abrupt conclusion, but being out of Young Riders this year, her eyes are now firmly set on Grand Prix.
The pair, who train with Darren Mattia and Carl Hester, burst onto the international scene at Grote-Brogel CDI in Belgium this summer. During this post lockdown trip they revealed the makings of an exciting international partnership, enjoying a plus-71% score in the Individual and a podium finish for their Freestyle.
Emily Bradshaw (21) and Susan Bradshaw's Enjoy Amaris V (Apache x Clint Eastwood) - also championship first-timers and another combination to achieve success at Grote-Brogel CDI - posted a creditable 68.05% in the Young Rider Team Test for 26th place. In the Individual, a couple of big mistakes in the canter brought the score down to 65.94% after a strong start for this talented partnership (pictured above). This was costly, relegating them to 40th place but the quality of the trot work was undeniable.
The Netherlands celebrated victory across the board in the Young Rider competition. They won team gold with Daphne Van Peperstraten and Greenpoint’s Cupido claiming the Young Rider Team Test and Freestyle, and Marten Luiten with Fynona winning the Individual.
FEI U25 European Championships
Running the same week as the Young Riders was the U25 European Championships where Britain’s Lewis Carrier and Ellen McCarthy both did themselves proud. The harmonious partnership of Lewis (23) and Diego V, his 12 year old Spielberg-sired gelding (pictured below), earned 12th place with 68.74% in the Inter II. Trained by Lewis since a youngster, Diego has developed into a competitive horse at the level, as shown by 67.46% in the Grand Prix to secure themselves 18th place and a spot in the Freestyle final.
“What an incredible adventure the Pilisjászfalu, Hungary European Championships has been! Spending it with some amazing people gaining wonderful experience!” said Lewis on Facebook following his Wild West-inspired freestyle which was awarded plus-69% with a couple of mistakes for 16th place. “The standard of the U25s is amazing and I’m so motivated to come back to the Europeans next year much much stronger!”
Ellen McCarthy (23) and Sir Lancelot M (s. Lordanos, ds. Ginsberg 4) - pictured below - were on their compatriot’s coat tails in the Inter II, in 14th place on a PB score of 68.73%. The stunning grey stallion, owned by Bridget McCarthy, showed a lot of quality. Some hesitation in the piaffe-passage was expensive but they made up some lost ground with super highlights in the canter.
Their Grand Prix was marred by costly errors in both sets of tempi changes keeping their score in check at 66.69% for 22nd place. Nonetheless, the 15 year old Lancelot radiated quality in much of the work.
The team title went to the Netherlands spearheaded by Jeanine Nieuwenhuis and TC Athene, winners of the Inter II on 74.765%. The Grand Prix 16-25 was won by Germany’s Ann-Kathrin Lindner and FBW Sunfire (75.59%) and the Grand Prix Freestyle went to Denmark’s Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen and Foco Loco W on a score of 79.05%.
FEI Pony European Championships
Great Britain’s sole representative at the Pony European Championships during week two was Annabella Pidgley with her 2019 FEI Pony European Championships team partner, Cognac IX (FS Chambertin x Waldemar) owned by Sarah Pidgley.
Annabella (15) and 12 year old Cognac (pictured below) have been on great form, post lockdown achieving big-scoring podium placings at Grote-Brogel CDI. This championships however, Gognac was too distracted by blustery conditions at the showground to be on his best form.
Annabella had a challenging ride in the Team Test but did a great job to score 64.88% for 43rd place. In the Individual Test, the palomino gelding was more settled and produced some high quality work but a mistake in one of the simple changes was expensive and kept their score in check at 67.83% for 29th place.
All three Pony tests were dominated by Germany’s Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel and Zinq Nasdaq FH on scores of 80.05%, 82.35% and 85.73% respectively, with Germany taking the Team Gold ahead of Denmark and the Netherlands.
Results
FEI Young Rider European Championships
Young Rider Team Test
1. Daphne Van Peperstraten and Greenpoint’s Cupido, 75.882% (NED)
2. Marten Luiten and Fynona, 75.823% (NED)
3. Lia Welschof and First Class 88, 75.794% (GER)
17. Alicia Lee and Bonita 466, 69.677% (GBR)
26. Emily Bradshaw and Enjoy Amaris V, 68.059% (GBR)
Team Standings
1. Netherlands, 222.940
2. Germany, 222.030
3. Denmark, 215.794
Young Rider Individual Test
1. Marten Luiten and Fynona, 77.559% (NED)
2. Lia Welschof and First Class 88, 75.853% (GER)
3. Daphne Van Peperstraten and Greenpoint’s Cupido, 74.265% (NED)
17. Alicia Lee and Bonita 466, 69.500% (GBR)
40. Emily Bradshaw and Enjoy Amaris V, 65.941% (GBR)
Young Rider Freestyle
1. Daphne Van Peperstraten and Greenpoint’s Cupido, 80.690% (NED)
2. Lia Welschof and First Class 88, 79.230% (GER)
3. Marten Luiten and Fynona, 77.610% (NED)
FEI U25 European Championships
Intermediate II
1. Jeanine Nieuwenhuis and TC Athene, 74.765% (NED)
2. Ann-Kathrin Lindner and FBW Sunfire, 74.588% (GER)
3. Victoria E Vallentin and Brooklyn, 73.265% (DEN)
12. Lewis Carrier and Diego V, 68.794% (GBR)
14. Ellen McCarthy and Sir Lancelot M, 68.735% (GBR)
Team Standings
1. Netherlands, 219.294
2. Germany, 218.323
3. Denmark, 217.441
Grand Prix 16-25
1. Ann-Kathrin Lindner and FBW Sunfire, 75.590% (GER)
2. Jeanine Nieuwenhuis and TC Athene, 74.103% (NED)
3. Raphael Netz and Lacoste 126, 73.308% (GER)
18. Lewis Carrier and Diego V, 67.462% (GBR)
22. Ellen McCarthy and Sir Lancelot M, 66.692% (GBR)
Grand Prix Freestyle
1. Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen and Foco Loco W, 79.025% (DEN)
2. Jeanine Nieuwenhuis and TC Athene, 78.450% (NED)
3. Ann-Kathrin Lindner and FBW Sunfire, 77.610% (GER)
16. Lewis Carrier and Diego V, 69.240% (GBR)
FEI Pony European Championships
Pony Team Test
1. Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel and Zinq Nasdaq FH, 80.057% (GER)
2. Sophia Boje Obel Jørgensen and Adriano B, 76.743% (DEN)
3. Rose Oatley and Daddy Moon, 76.743% (GER)
43. Annabella Pidgley and Cognac IX, 64.886% (GBR)
Team Standings
1. Germany, 232.774
2. Denmark, 222.171%
3. Netherlands, 221.800%
Pony Individual Test
1. Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel and Zinq Nasdaq FH, 82.351% (GER)
2. Sophia Boje Obel Jørgensen and Adriano B, 79.000% (DEN)
3. Antonia Roth and Daily Pleasure WE, 77.297% (GER)
29. Annabella Pidgley and Cognac IX, 67.838% (GBR)
Pony Freestyle
1. Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel and Zinq Nasdaq FH, 85.735% (GER)
2. Sophia Boje Obel Jørgensen and Adriano B, 82.555% (DEN)
3. Rose Oatley and Daddy Moon, 81.400% (GER)
Photo © Łukasz Kowalski
