Great Britain’s Children jump for joy and a Team Bronze at the FEI Jumping European Championships for Children, Juniors and Young Riders
Friday 14 July 2023
Great Britain’s Children jump for joy and a Team Bronze at the FEI Jumping European Championships for Children, Juniors and Young Riders
It went to the wire in the Childrens Nations Cup team competition at the FEI Young Rider, Junior and Children Team competitions in Gorla Minore, Italy, as Britain fought hard in a three-way decider with France and Germany. All three teams finished on a four-fault total to force a jump-off situation with every rider playing their part.
Pathfinder Darcy Breen was foot-perfect in three rounds on the 10-year-old Kunis but tapped out a rail in the jump-off. On four in the very first round, Emily Gulliver posted a double clear in the team competition and was again penalty-free in the jump-off on the eight-year-old Fleur Du Nuit 8 and Sienna Lanni, also on a day one four faults, left every fence intact from then on with Jill Williams’ 10-year-old Bermudez BDA to keep Britain in the hunt.
The team was assured of a medal, which colour rested on the shoulders of anchor Sula von Bulow, at her first European championship, and she gave it her best shot. Not only had Sula got to jump clear, it had to be done in a super-fast time. And she almost pulled it off. Riding the 14-year-old Dabelle with skill and bravery, Sula maintained a good pace to be up on the clock. But the front bar of the final oxer fell and dropped Britain down to the bronze medal position.
"The Childrens team were fantastic - it was a great result as they are so inexperienced but they held their own," said Team manager Clare Whitaker. "They were a bit unlucky in the jump-off but a Bronze medal out of 23 teams is a great achievement - I am so very proud of them all."
Germany claimed the gold medal with only 0.63 seconds over France in the silver position. Great Britain stood in bronze one fence behind.
FEI Jumping European Championships for Children, Juniors and Young Riders – 14 July, 2023
Children Nations Cup
1st Germany – 4 119.12 seconds
2nd France – 4 119.75 seconds
3rd Great Britain 8 119.30 seconds
Daisy Breen & Kunis – 0/0/0/4 43.08 seconds
Emily Gulliver & Fleur Du Nuit 8 – 4/0/0/0 40.50 seconds
Sienna Lanni & Bermudez BDA – 4/0/0/0 40.28 seconds
Sula von Bulow & Dabelle – 4/4/4/4 38.52 seconds
Image courtesy FEI
