FEI Junior European Championships: Individual placings and fantastic freestyles

The four Brits flying the flag at the Junior European Championships concluded their week with some fantastic freestyle riding, following a full-house of qualification spaces secured after a successful Individual competition. 

Junior Individual 

Two days of Junior Individual competition saw a German front-row lockout on the podium, as Julie Sofie Schmitz-Heinenhof and Attractive claimed the gold medal on 72.941% and fellow countryman Maria Teresa Pohl took home silver on board Diaton FRH with 72.588%. Dominique van Dalsen from the Netherlands made the third spot on the podium her own, riding to 72.471% with Just Johnson (Johnson x Florencio). 

Isla Sully achieved a finish worthy of momentous applause, placing less then one percent away from the podium in sixth with a score 71.617%. Together with Cassandra Sully's powerful Lusitano Vagabond de Massa, Isla impressed the judges with balanced half passes and convincing flying changes, both of which scored multiple eights. A small mistake in the first walk pirouette was the only hold-back to the score, which was just rewards for a fantastic test ride. 

Fenella Quinn's Empire B looked a picture under Abigail Gray in their second Championship test as a combination, as the duo rode into the Freestyle final with a score of 69.677% and 11th place. Abigail, who honed her skills in Pony FEI classes with much success, presents the Sting-sired gelding with a beautiful frame and balance, with the poll always at the highest point. A test sheet full of sevens, and a handful of higher marks still, shows much promise for the pair who are still in only their first season together. 

On board Josephine Eley's Nibeley Black Pearl, Myles Graham has brought all of his experience to this Championships, riding with skill to teach his new Championship partner the ropes on the big stage. In the Individual test, the pair earned their pass to the Freestyle with 68.618% - with Sven Rothenberger (GER - H), Alban Tissot (FRA - E), Alice Schwab (AUT - C), Knut Danzberg (GER - M) and Susanne Baarup (DEN - B) rewarding a second neatly presented test. 

Demi Howard-Cartwright completed a great round for the British riders, with all four inside the top 21. With Lorna Wilson's nine-year-old Apache-sired Newton Astro Nascente, Demi produced 68.470% and a clean, mistake-free test that was a joy to watch with the teen's sympathetic riding. This combination ended their European Championships in the Individual test, but can be proud of their performances that will give them great confidence and experience for the next steps in their journey together. 

Junior Freestyle 

Germany's Julie Sofie Schmitz-Heinenhof became the outright Junior European Champion in the Freestyle competition, taking her second gold medal of the week with Attractive on a score of 77.530%. Individual bronze medal winners Dominique van Dalsen (NED) and Just Johnson stepped up to silver in the kur, with a mark just a fraction away from the winner on 77.325%; whilst Viktoria Von Braunmuhl became the third German team rider to secure an individual FEI medal, taking home the bronze with DSP First Class earning 76.305%. The class produced an inspiring watch, with the best 16 - 18 year old riders in Europe showing their ability to ride top tests under high pressure.  

Isla Sully once again earned the top result for Britain, with her ever-reliable dancing partner Vagabond de Massa producing a third sparkling performance to score 74.045%. The combination rode to well-suited James Bond-themed tunes, which matched a bouyant, cadenced way of going. Their floorplan and music received strong artistic marks, reflecting the challenging pattern which included lateral work ridden from counter-changes of hand and flying changes ridden in sequence on the centre line.

The second British combination to place inside the top ten was Abigail Gray and Fenella Quinn's Empire B, earning a superb 72.590%. With only a handful of freestyles under their belt as a pairing, the duo did a great job to show a symmetrical floor plan with shoulder in ridden on the quarter lines and steep canter half passes, all set to dramatic film music. Their performance again showed a lovely uphill way of going with balance and 

Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl scored 69.685% for their first European Championship Freestyle final as a combination, with the Oxfordshire-based teen using his experience to make some great in-the-saddle decisions throughout his performance to maximise the marks. Myles used 'Whitney's' energy and elasticity to his advantage showing enormous scope in the canter half passes and ground covering extended canters; their engaging floorplan was ridden to atmospheric music by the production company Two Steps from Hell. 

Congratulations to Myles, Abigail, Isla and Demi on a great series of results, including their team bronze medal secured earlier in the week; congratulations also go to their families, grooms, coaches and support teams at home, as well as Chef d'Equipe Tom Hobday, Performance Manager Nina Boex, Coach Advisors Peter Storr and Clive Halsall and team vet Robert Oulton. 

Results - top three and British riders 

Junior Individual 
1. Julie Sofie Schmitz-Heinenhof and Attractive, 72.941% (GER)
2. Maria Teresa Pohl and Diaton FRH, 72.588% (GER)
3. Dominique van Dalsen and Just Johnson, 72.471% (NED)
6. Isla Sully and Vagabond de Massa, 71.617% (GBR) 
11. Abigail Gray and Empire B, 69.677% (GBR) 
18. Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl, 68.618% (GBR) 
21. Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente, 68.470% (GBR)

Junior Freestyle
1. Julie Sofie Schmitz-Heinenhof and Attractive, 77.530% (GER)
2. Dominique van Dalsen and Just Johnson, 77.325% (NED)
3. Viktoria Von Braunmuhl and DSP First Class, 76.305% (GER) 
8. Isla Sully and Vagabond de Massa, 74.045% (GBR)
10. Abigail Gray and Empire B, 72.590% (GBR)
19. Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl, 69.685% (GBR) 

FULL RESULTS