Great-Britain has scored a golden hat-trick at the AIEC Student Rider Nations Cup (SRNC) World Finals in Poland last weekend. The team of three claimed overall combined gold as well as a gold medal in the team dressage, and tied for first place with Austria in the team showjumping competition. The squad’s performances throughout 2017 mean Britain also won the World University Equestrian Federation (AIEC) President’s Cup for the best overall combined team rankings from all SRNCs in a calendar year. Sophie Hall, Rupert Batting and India Wishart made up the British team at Jaszkowo Riding Centre for the world finals (29-31 December) and also took home a host of individual medals. India and Sophie won combined individual gold and silver respectively, Rupert took individual dressage silver and India bronze. SRNCs run in a knock-out format, in which riders compete on unfamiliar horses, lent for the occasion, which makes it a test of horsemanship rather than a horse’s ability. Teams also ride the first-round dressage test together as a trio, in a similar way to the CIC2* European Eventing Championship dressage. The final dressage round involves two riders, who must each perform a set test at prix st georges level and a freestyle to music. The final two riders in the showjumping competition face a course — usually around 1.30m — which they will jump on both horses used in the final.
