Great Britain take Team Bronze in the FEI Junior European Championships
Friday 19 July 2024
Great Britain claimed Team Bronze in the FEI Jumping European Championships for Juniors at Peelbergen in The Netherlands, in a tense, pressurised competition which went to the wire, Britain pitted against Spain to decide the silver and bronze medals.
Day one’s Table C Speed (seconds added for a knockdown), with a massive 114 competitors, converted the results into penalty points with the winner on zero and points progressively higher moving down the line. The points counted for individual and team scores, with Britain holding its own and to be in the top six.
A total of 24 teams came forward on the first leg of team day to face course-designer Bart Vonck’s 13-fence 1.40m track and the team moved into fifth overnight. Tabitha Kyle on TJ Hall’s Desterly and Henry Squibb with the nine-year-old Diatencona PS made only one error each to both come home on four faults while Olivia Sponer came up trumps in the anchor position to post a much-needed clear round on Bingo Du Chateau.
Ten teams made the cut to tackle the second round of the team competition, although all riders jumped again for their individual scores, the teams drawn at the end. Britain pulled out all the stops over a 13-fence 1.40m course to return a zero score.
Pathfinder Tabitha gave a masterclass on 16-year-old Tolan R daughter Desterly to boost Britain’s medal chances with a magnificent clear. Sophie Evans had suffered a round she would like to forget on day one of the teams, but she put all that behind her, rising to the occasion to storm home clear on ESM Equestrian’s Tinka’s Boy 12-year-old CSIO Bel.
Henry looked to provide another clear for Britain as Diatencona flicked her heels away at each fence, but just tipped the final skinny planks to finish on four faults. It was all down to final team member Olivia. France had already secured Gold by their third rider and could not be beaten, but the Spanish team were on equal points to Great Britain – a final clear was vital.
Olivia duly delivered on the 13-year-old Bingo Du Chateau (Quaprice Bois Margot x Royal Feu) and the focus turned to Spain’s final rider. Olivia Alvarez Garcia, already clear in round one and on just 0.24 penalty points, kept her cool to leave every fence intact on the eye-catching, scopey stallion Gazquine Tag to add nothing to her score. It forced a jump-off for Silver and Bronze. All riders contended the jump-off with the best three scores counting.
Drawn first, Tabitha did her utmost to set a fast target but tipped out both front rails on an early green oxer and the following oxer. The time was fast, but it was eight faults on the scoreboard. Spain’s first rider came back with a clear round in a steadier time. Advantage Spain.
However, Sophie hit form on the right day to jump clear on CSIO Bel, whereas her Spanish counterpart finished on 12 faults. Henry and Diatencona clipped a rail, another to fall victim to the front rail of the early green oxer, to come home on four faults but his Spanish equal also finished on four, albeit a slightly faster time. It all hinged on the final riders.
Olivia had to jump clear and fast to put the pressure on Spain and set out determinedly with Bingo Du Chateau still looking fresh putting in the occasional buck. But the top rail going into the penultimate double fell and, although the time was the quickest of the class, it left the door open for Spain.
Under instruction to jump a clear to win, Olivia Alvarez Garcia posted a foot-perfect round on the handsome Gazquine Tag to secure Silver for Spain.
“They all rode well and tried really hard, moving from sixth up to Bronze. It was a real team effort and I’m very proud,” said Chef d’Equipe Tracey Newman.
Britain has two riders in the top 10 going into the Individual on Saturday, both less than a fence behind the top of the leaderboard. Olivia Sponer sits in fourth on Bingo Du Chateau 1.24 penalty points in arrears of Spain’s Olivia Alvarez Garcia, in the gold position on Gazquine Tag. Britain’s individual rider Noora von Bulow produced a magnificent double clear in the team competition to slot Interstar B into seventh on the Individual Leaderboard on 3.79 penalties, 3.55 points behind Olivia Alvarez Garcia. Tabitha and Desterly are currently in 18th place on 6.99 points and Henry also makes the Top 30 for the Individual medals in 26th aboard Diatencona PS on 10.44.
FEI Jumping European Championships for Juniors, Peelbergen, The Netherlands – 18 July
1st France – 9.06 penalty points
2nd Spain – 14.91 + 4 113.67 seconds
3rd Great Britain – 14.91 + 8 111.18 seconds
Tabitha Kyle & Desterly – 2.99+4+0+(8) 35.90 seconds
Sophie Evans & CSIO Bel – (3.70)+(19)+0+0 38.39 seconds
Henry Squibb & Diatencona PS – 2.44+4+(4)+4 38.28 seconds
Olivia Sponer & Bingo Du Chateau – 1.48+0+0+4 34.51 seconds
Imahe: Monique de Smit
19699cd55d357.jpg "Five Horses Gain Qualification to Contend for the Prestige Italia Big Star Bonus")
