Lewis Carrier and Diego top 12 in Hagen

This morning, Lewis Carrier and Diego V concluded Great Britain’s U25 campaign at the Longines FEI European Championships in Hagen with a strong Grand Prix Freestyle programme to finish 12th amongst Europe’s elite up-and-coming young Grand Prix riders.

Drawn eighth to go, the penultimate rider before the halfway break, Lewis and Diego meant business with a bold and technically demanding programme set to dramatic music from the Disney film Tron. A clear round escaped them but nonetheless they scored 70.520%, such was the quality of the highlights.

After saluting the judges, they boldly set off down the centre line with a line of one-time changes which didn’t quite come off, but there was a lot of good work to follow. Super piaffe pirouttes, double canter pirouettes, expressive two-time changes into a double pirouette and bold extensions, skilfully and intelligently ridden by Lewis, all helped to pull the score back up.

“The music caught me and Diego almost a little by surprise in there, so that first centre line of ones felt a little explosive – he felt a little explosive throughout, which was great, but I had a completely different feeling so had to ride it a bit differently,” said Lewis afterwards.

“I’m really pleased with how he went, he was really energetic and he just really loves the music. He really rises to the occasion to the music, but today was about keeping that energy together and not having the mistakes. I think I’ll go back to the drawing board a little bit, make the difficulty a little harder. With the year we’ve had, it’s been difficult to ride music in a test situation, so I can go away and work on it a bit now and crack it.

“I really enjoy making the music, I get to know the test and music really well, so I feel a bit more a passionate about it. I like take things from films – I’d like to go a bit more ‘poppy’ and upbeat – but films have a story and more behind them.”

He summed up his U25 championship experience by saying, “I’ve had a fantastic time in Hagen. Competing at this venue alongside the Seniors has been absolutely amazing. We’ve had a great experience and show, so I’m looking forward to going on from here and for the future.”

The gold medal was won by Germany’s Semmieke Rothenberger with Flanell on 81.955%, silver went to Raphael Netz with Elastico, also for Germany, on 81.210%, with the podium completed by the Netherlands’ Jessica Poelman and Chocolate Cookie R.D.P. on 78.075%.

RESULTS

Photo © British Equestrian/Jon Stroud Media
Words: British Dressage/Joanna Bowns