Great Britain secure third place in the FEI Children-on-Horses Nations Cup of Zduchovice
Saturday 27 April 2024
.jpg "Great Britain secure third place in the FEI Children-on-Horses Nations Cup of Zduchovice")
Great Britain claimed third in the FEI Children-on-Horses Nations Cup of Zduchovice in the Czech Republic in a tight competition decided by a three-way jump-off.
Four of the original eight teams were level on a zero score at the halfway stage with Denmark dropping out of contention on four faults in round two. Britain was pitted against Germany and Belgium as all three teams maintained their zero score to stand at the top of the leaderboard and force a jump-off.
Pathfinder Rosie Smith with TJ Hall’s 14-year-old Zambesi TN stallion Fruselli and Britain’s second rider Tabby Morgan-Evans with Tifany Morgan-Evans’ Cevin Z 11-year-old Bermudez BDA both supplied foot-perfect clear rounds to keep Britain in a strong position. Olivia Brightmore made only one mistake in round one on ESM Equestrian’s Lord Z 14-year-old Chico De Llamosas but bounced back with a clean sheet in round two. With three clears already in the bag second time out, Lottie Adams, clear in round one, was not required to jump again on Georgina Adams’ Diamant De Semilly eight-year-old Khaleesi OL.
It was down to the jump-off and all riders were required to compete. Time was of the essence as the best three scores were added together for the final result. And it went to the wire.
Rosie was the first for Britain and, despite her inexperience and this only the second time in a Nations Cup, pulled out all the stops on Fruselli to produce a fast and accurate clear, putting Britain ahead at this early stage.
Both Tabby on Bermudez and Olivia aboard Chico De Llamosas provided steadier clear rounds while Belgium and Germany each had a rider with faults. It was all down to the final riders. Lottie did her utmost to return a fast time, but it was at the expense of a rail down with Khaleesi.
Belgium and Germany jumped fast clear rounds and time dictated the places, Britain in third only 0.29 seconds behind second-placed Germany.
“The team are very new to Nations Cup competitions but they coped well, Tabby especially as she is still eligible for 128cm classes and she went to Compiegne as an individual to get experience,” said Chef d’Equipe Clare Whitaker. “As our final rider, Lottie had to push against the clock and took out one less stride but unfortunately had the fence down but they all jumped well.”
FEI Children-on-Horses Nations Cup of Zduchovice, Czech Republic –
Friday, 26 April 2024
1st Belgium 0 - 125.16 seconds
2nd Germany 0 - 126.12 seconds
3rd Great Britain 0 - 126.41 seconds
Rosie Smith & Fruselli – 0/0/0 - 38.68 seconds
Tabby Morgan-Evans & Bermudez BDA – 0/0/0 44.39 seconds
Olivia Brightmore & Chico De Llamosas – 4/0/0 43.34 seconds
Lottie Adams & Khaleesi OL – 0/-/4 - 39.22 seconds
Image: Jan Vlcek / equifo.cz
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