Pony European Championships 2014

2014 FEI EUROPEAN PONY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 4 Report

Final Part of Dressage Individual Competition

(Click on heading to jump to that report)

Eventing Report

The cross country phase started at 2pm and weather was lovely, sunny with a nice breeze. The course was across the road from the main Green Glens complex being set in the grounds of the 15th century Drishane Castle. A very spectator friendly course, with a bank midway up the course from which a good number of fences could be seen, it was also quite narrow, making it easy to see a rider on an early fence, then cross the course to see them again later on. Generally, the ground rose to the fence 13, near the castle, then the track turned and ran back downhill for the second part. The course was specially designed by Mike Etherington Smith, who is also the Event Director & Course Designer for the CCI*** events at Blenheim and Chatsworth as well as the designer for the Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Chelsea Pearce and SPSS Elite graded mare Catherston Nutsafe (aka "Snoopy") were the Team GB pathfinders, as well as 2nd in the overall running order, and they set off with style and speed. Unfortunately, they fell foul of an unintentional hazard on the course - the water splash beneath a bridge (see pictures here) between fences 12 and 13. Not a flagged obstacle, but unavoidable, no one had realised that ponies travelling a speed would find themselves getting stuck and falling. So although this marked the end of Chelsea & Snoopy's round, as the role of the pathfinder is to establish how the course rides, they certainly did that and the remaining GB riders could approach with more caution and all got through (2 other Nation's riders didn't though).

Next out for GB was the individual combination of Chloe Bell & Strawberry Box. Water was also their "bête noir" as, having had a refusal at fence 4 (the second gypsy caravan that had to be taken at a sharp angle for the fast route), they had successfully negotiated the Shamrock Water on the way up the course, got through the water hazard at the top then rode with determination through the Lime Kiln Water to get over the potentially spooky cascading water fence, only to came to grief on their return to the Shamrock water with a Chloe falling when Strawberry Box stopped at the fence just before the water. Sixteen year old Chloe, daughter of eventer, coach and organiser, Helen Bell, was devastated by her fall as it is her last year on ponies.

So the pressure was on 15 year old Thomas Tulloch and his mother's 16 year old gelding, Spirit VI, who were waiting to start when news of Chloe's fall came in. Thomas stayed cool and raised GB hopes with a fantastic clear round within the time.

The remaining 2 GB team riders followed his example perfectly and both them also finished inside the time, a very impressive result. Fourteen year old individual Phoebe Locke also did well to come home clear with just 4 time faults in her first year eventing.

However, France remained in the lead with 3 of their riders clear in the time and overnight leader, Victor Levecque being so far ahead after dressage and so speedy on the course that he could take some long routes (including at the influential drop to skinny where 11 riders had refusals and one fell off), add 4 time faults to his score and still be 5.1 penalties clear of GB's Isabelle Upton & Alfie XI. Germany dropped from 2nd to 4th after only one rider went clear in the time and 2 of the team had a stop at the skinny after the drop (fence 8). GB's 3 riders round in the time lifted the team to 2nd place at the end of the XC and Italy maintained their 3rd place with 2 riders round in the time and the third (with British-bred Soulbury Otters Star) just adding some timefaults.

Individually, Isabelle Upton & Alfie XI are still in 2nd place, with Oliver Williams & Bobnamara moving from 15th to 9th, Phoebe Locke & Mr Otto from 21st to 14th and Thomas Tulloch & Spirit IV from 36th to 16th. The next hurdle is always the final vet check, followed by the jumping in the main arena and with Italy just 2.8 penalties behind GB, the pressure is on for clear rounds.

Isabelle Upton & Alfie XI

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Chelsea Pearce &

Catherston Nutsafe

Chloe Bell & Strawberry Box

Thomas Tulloch & Spirit VI

Phoebe Locke & Mr Otto

Oliver Williams & Bobnamara

Dressage Report

The second and final part of riders performed their Individual Tests on the Saturday morning to decide the first set of Individual Dressage medals. With all of the British girls having competed the afternoon before - and Alex Hellings & Der Kleine Lord being the overnight leaders - it was a case of watch and wait! With 2 individual medallists from 2013 drawn to ride in this second part, the on form Semmieke Rothenberger (GER) & Deinhard B (who topped the leader board in the Team Test) and Lisanne Zoutendijk (NED) & Champ of Class who had been rather tense at the start of the team test, it was going to be a long wait for Alex & Lordy and the GB supporters.

With the first ten combinations gone, Lisanne & Champ of Class entered the ring and they just managed to just edge ahead of Alex & Lordy - but by less then 0.25%! Then the next 4 competitiors stayed below Alex & Lordy before Semmieke & Deinhard B produced a quality test that the judges were unaminous in putting in to the lead - and so Alex & Lordy slipped to Bronze which is still a fantastic result whatever and even more so with a 7 year old pony.

With Phoebe Peters & SL Lucci finishing 10th and Beth Horobin & Gigolo 12th, GB have the maximum 3 riders through to the Kur for the first time in a number of years. So, with tomorrow morning’s Kur being a separate competition, everyone starts level again and the competition is going to be amazing.

The medals went to:

GOLD	Semmieke Rothenberger (GER) & Deinhard B

SILVER	Lisanne Zoutendijk (NED) & Champ of Class (77.85%)

BRONZE	Alexandra Hellings (GB) & Der Kleine Lord

Pictured below are Bronze medal winner Alex Hellings with her brother and father (left picture) then with the addition of Der Kleine Lord himself and trainer Sonia Baines

Alex Hellings (GB)

Individual Bronze medallist 2014

The medallists (from left: Lisanne Zoutendijk, Semmieke Rothenberger & Alexandra Hellings)

Photos by qorum-photos.com

Jumping Report

There was a Consolation Jumping competition for those riders that had not got through to the Individual final. As all the British riders are through to the Individual Final there were no Team GB representatives in this class.

Photos by www.qorum-photos.com

Note that the SPSS Office relocated in April 2014 and the contact details at the top of the page should now be used for all contact with the SPSS
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