Great Britain’s Youth claims podium places at the Future Champions Tour at Horses and Dreams Entertainment in Germany
Monday 17 June 2024
Great Britain takes second in the Future Champions Tour FEI Pony Nations Cup
Great Britain finished second by the narrowest of margins in the CSIOP FEI Pony Nations Cup on the Future Champions Tour at Horses and Dreams Entertainment GmbH in Hagen, Germany.
Six teams contended the Pony Nations Cup over a 1.30m course and only four riders supplied double clears – Britain providing two of them.
Ireland led the way at the halfway point on two time faults, with Britain hot on their heels only two faults in arrears, and with Germany only another two faults further behind, it was tight at the top and all to play for.
The British team gave it their best shot in round two. Pathfinder Cate Kerr was the first to post a double clear on the 17-year-old Cindy, and while Ella Spencer returned an unlucky four faults with the eight-year-old Gilton Des Islots, the last two competitors stormed home clear. Third out for the team, Daisy Day on the 11-year-old gelding Shannons Joy, improved on her round one four faults to present a clean round and anchor Sophia Rogers jumped a vital double clear with the scopey Neil 55.
It wasn’t enough. Ireland also came home on a zero score in round two to total only two faults over two rounds and claim victory. Britain carried four faults from round one to put them in second place on the podium, six faults ahead of Germany on 10.
Chef d’Equipe Clare Whitaker was delighted with their performance: “I was very pleased, they jumped super. Cate took on the difficult role of pathfinder and jumped a great double clear. It was Daisy’s first team experience and she was very nervous, but I told her to pretend she was at Arena UK and she really stepped up. Ella did well with a young pony and Sophia rode exceptionally well in the vital position of number four.”
Sophia Rogers takes a podium place in the Future Champions Pony Grand Prix
Sophia Rogers continued with consistent clear rounds in the Pony Grand Prix to take second place on the podium.
Thirty-five competitors set out over a 1.30m track with eight mastering the 13 fences to go forward into the jump-off, three of them representing Great Britain. Sophia claimed the advantageous final draw with Nicola Rogers’ scopey but sensitive 12-year-old Neil (Otangelo x Koriander) – bred by Charlotte Platt and slotted into second place 1.75 seconds behind the winner, Ireland’s Lily Tunney on Fireman.
“Neil is sharp, sensitive and annoying to all the grooms that he is stabled near, but he’s focused and loves his job when in the ring,” said Sophia. “I was concerned about Hagen and the rumours it was a huge course, but Neil isn’t fazed. The course was technical with lots of forward and short distances. I was nervous going into the grand prix jump-off and, as my trainer Jason [Moore] tells me, I still don’t really know ‘how to execute’ but I gave it my best and we came second.
“This is only our eighth show together and each time I ride him, I’m beginning to trust him more. He gives me a great feeling over a fence and I know he wants to jump.”
Cate Kerr on Cindy and Ella Spencer with Gilton Des Islots also returned double clears for sixth and seventh respectively.
Olivia Sponer jumps into third in the Future Champions Junior Grand Prix
Oliva Sponer guided Crazy Girl into third place in a hard-fought Junior Grand Prix.
The 44 riders faced a 13-fence, 16-effort 1.40m course but quality was abound and 11 competitors supplied penalty-free rounds to make their way into the jump-off. It was all about the clock as four produced double clears, Olivia and the Corlensky G Ars Vivendi 15-year-old Crazy Girl slipping into third place, 1.03 seconds behind the winner, Germany’s Jona Jolie Schwamborn on Chinta.
CSIOP FEI Pony Nations Cup – Future Champions Tour, Hagen, Germany
1st Ireland – 2/0
2nd Great Britain – 4/0
Cate Kerr & Cindy – 0/0
Ella Spencer & Gilton Des Ilots – (8)/(4)
Daisy Day & Shannon’s Joy – 4/0
Sophia Rogers & Neil 55 – 0/0
3rd Germany – 6/4
Pony Grand Prix – Future Champions Tour, Hagen, Germany
1st - Lily Tunney (IRE) & Fireman – 0/0 - 40/76
2nd - Sophia Rogers (GBR) & Neil 55 – 0/0 - 42.51 seconds
3rd - Xander Lamberts & Olily - V – 0/0 - 44.46
Junior Grand Prix – Future Champions Tour, Hagen, Germany
1st - Jona Jolie Schwamborn (GER) & Chinta – 0/0 - 43.65
2nd - Louise Ameeuw (BEL) & Orphy Van De Kruishoeve – 0/0 - 44.28
3rd - Olivia Sponer (GBR) & Crazy Girl – 0/0 - 44.68
