FEI Young Rider and U25 European Championships: Bronze for Britain

Britain’s U25 team brought home a brilliant bronze medal after two days of FEI European Championship team competition in Kronberg, Germany (8 – 13 July 2025), whilst a valiant effort from the Young Riders left them a whisker behind a podium finish.  

U25s  

Fielding a team of three debutant riders and one experienced medallist, Great Britain’s U25 team defied close-fought competition to secure a bronze medal after a nail-biting finish.  

A confident home-team from Germany secured the gold medal on a score of 217.205 after taking the first two individual spots with accomplished rides from Anna Schölermann and Mauritz Treffinger, whilst the Netherlands also put in a strong showing for the silver, completing with a total of 211.647. Britain would go toe-to-toe with not one, but two nations, for the battle for bronze; and at the end of the class, less than 0.3% split the third, fourth and fifth place nations.  

On the first day of competition, Charlotte Lutener opened Britain’s account and made a solid first appearance at a European Championships, riding to 65.235% on board her own 15-year-old mare Full Fusion. “Flo tried really hard for me in our Team test yesterday,” Charlotte said on social media, “we sadly had a couple of hiccups in places but we gave it our all, tried our best and enjoyed every minute.” Charlotte also paid credit to her trainer Becky Moody, who travelled straight from success in Aachen to support her pupil at her Championships debut.  

Also making a first turn down a European Championship centre line was Harrison Ashton, who put Great Britain in an outstanding position at the end of day one of team competition. With Henri Rouste’s bright talent Million Dreams (Millenium x Sandro Hit), Harrison rode to a new personal best Intermediate II score of 70% after a truly polished performance. The young mare is only in her first season at the level, and it’s clear her rider is exceptionally proud of her ability, which was shown in abundance in the stunning surroundings.  

To start day two, Lilah Gibbs earned her U25 pocket badge and also made a strong debut appearance. With her own Dude III, Lilah rode an elegant test for 66.971%, adding another solid score to Britain’s total as the competition for the medals set alight. Lilah is supported by Sarah Millis, who knows well how it feels to handle the pressure and ride to Youth medal winning performances.  

Anchorwoman Annabella Pidgley handled the heat with expertise and poise. Presenting her mother Sarah Pidgley’s beautiful Vitalis-sired gelding Vamos Amigos, Annabella earned 70.441% from an experienced panel made up of judges Isobel Wessels (E – GBR), William Warren (H – USA), Dr Vincenzo Truppa (C – ITA), Henning Lehrmann (M – GER) and Christine Prip (B – DEN). The Danish-based Brit worked together with her ride to show powerful passage and immaculate pirouettes; a minor miscommunication in the two-tempi changes just kept the duo out of the top spots individually, where they finished the day in seventh.  

A tense wait whilst strong performances from Sweden and Switzerland would follow, but the bronze belonged to Britain. Congratulations to all four riders, their grooms, owners, support teams and families for a much-deserved moment on the podium.  

Young Riders 

Also in action across the first two days were Britain’s Young Rider team of Izzy Lickley, Teghan Cantrell-Bennett, India Durman-Mills and Mette Dahl.  

Making it two from two, Germany claimed the Young Rider team title as well as the U25 gold, spearheaded by multi-medal winner siblings Lana-Pinou and Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel. The Netherlands earned a second silver medal, with a standout performance by their final rider of the event, Tessa Kole, whilst Denmark’s three-rider squad earned a bronze medal and defied the pressure of riding without a drop score.  

Britain’s quartet earned a valiant fourth place, following four rides which demonstrated the future talent of those in action.  

Mette Dahl opened the Young Rider challenge, riding Fiona Bigwood’s Fidelio Van Het Bloemenhof (Fidertanz x Jazz) in the pathfinder position. Mette showed her strong partnership with her ‘family favourite’ horse, and earned 67.677% at the start of the day.  

Next up, team newcomer Teghan Cantrell-Bennett presented her mother Christine Cantrell’s 20-year-old mare Woodlander Donna Summer – who defies her age and looks a total picture. The combination showed work that was the epitome of light, harmonious riding, and were rewarded with 69.529% from judges Patricia Wolters (E – NED), Elke Ebert (H – GER), Maria Colliander (C – FIN), Marlena Gruca Rucinska (M – POL) and Frederic Pinteus (B – POR).  

With all to play for, Izzy Lickley made her fifth European Championships team test one to remember, giving Britain a top score at the start of the second day of competition. With Robert and Nicola Lickley’s KWPN mare Katniss, Izzy rode a test full of highlights and expression, earning the team’s top Young Rider score of 70.235%. This would leave the duo just outside of the top ten individually, with 11th place amongst Europe’s best. 

Finally, the experienced duo of India Durman-Mills and Verity Saul’s Escade took the fourth rider spot and, despite not having their best day in the arena, showed the class that’s delivered them team medals across multiple years. India displayed great horsemanship to guide ‘Eddie’ through a handful of insecure moments that just kept today’s score back, still earning a creditable 65.647%.  

Congratulations to all four riders on their top riding, there’s certainly a lot to look forward to with the individual competition ahead.  

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TIMES AND RESULTS

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Results - top three and British riders 

U25 team standings 
1. Germany - 217.205
2. The Netherlands - 211.647
3. Great Britain - 207.412
4. Switzerland - 207.236
5. Denmark - 207.147

U25 Team test
1. Anna Schölermann and Springborgs Guardian, 73.147% (GER)
2. Mauritz Treffinger and Cadeau Noir, 72.588% (GER)
3. Tallulah Lynn Nater and Flynn FRH, 71.824% (SUI) 
9. Annabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos, 70.441% (GBR)
12. Harrison Ashton and Million Dreams, 70.000% (GBR)
29. Lilah Gibbs and Dude III, 66.971% (GBR) 
38. Charlotte Lutener and Full Fusion, 65.235% (GBR) 

Young Rider team standings 
1. Germany - 217.029
2. The Netherlands - 215.853
3. Denmark - 212.206
4. Great Britain - 207.441
5. Austria - 205.706

Young Rider Team test
1. Lana-Pinou Baumgürtel and ZINQ Emma FH NRW, 74.294% (GER)
2. Tessa Kole and Hexagon's Nachtwacht, 73.206% (NED) 
3. Anna Teibel Raben and Sparaday, 72.559%% (DEN)
11. Isobel Lickley and Katniss, 70.235% (GBR)
15. Teghan Cantrell and Woodlander Donna Summer, 69.529% (GBR)
25. Mette Dahl and Fidelio van het Bloemenhof, 67.677% (GBR)
40. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 65.647% (GBR)