Solid start for Brits in Madrid

Today saw the start of the European Jumping Championships in Madrid (14-17 September).  The British team of Ben Maher, Nick Skelton, Guy Williams and John Whitaker were drawn second to go after the hosts Spain in the first of the team competitions, the Speed class.

Two clear rounds from the British riders was enough to see the team finish in fifth at the end of day one.

 

Chef d’Equipe for the showjumping squad, Rob Hoekstra commented; “We may not be as close as we would have liked, but we’re also not that far away and definitely in with a touch. We’ve had a mishap we wouldn’t have expected, but the most important thing is that the horses are jumping well”.

 

First to go was Nick Skelton with Beverley Widdowson’s Carlo; the pair rose to the occasion posting a superb clear inside the time, to finish at the end of day one in eighth place. Guy, on his Championship debut was the next in the arena with his own Titus II; the combination produced a solid round, posting just eight faults to finish on a total score of 92.87 which put them into 41^st.

 

Guy commented on his round; “I felt my horse was a little bit looking and maybe I was a little bit deep at a few fences but hopefully we’ll correct it tomorrow. He felt like he was jumping well and hopefully he should get better.”

 

Next to go was Ben Maher with the Quainton Stud’s and his own Tripple X III. The combination showed their Rotterdam form posting another British clear, in a time of 84.37, which was good enough to finish 21^st. Last to go, British showjumping stalwart John Whitaker, riding Rebecca Stones’s Peppermill, was unlucky to record a stop part way through the course, on an otherwise clear round, which left them on a total time of 90.18, 36^th on the leader board.

 

All riders compete tomorrow in the final first round of the team competition and the second individual qualifier second round.

Team GBR are supported by the World Class Programme, which is generously supported by Lottery and Exchequer funding via UK Sport. The Programme incorporates both the Development and Performance Programmes and the Equine Pathway, and works closely with the three BEF Olympic Member Bodies, British Dressage, British Eventing and British Showjumping.