The first European champions in show jumping have been determined in Riesenbeck: In the junior age group, after two exciting rounds, the team from Ireland (6.99 points) won ahead of the Netherlands (12.79) and Belgium (20.60). The hosts from Germany “only” managed fourth place (21.04).
The highly talented Alice Wachman ensured early on with her confident ride on the stallion Killarney that her colleagues Paddy Reape, Tabitha Kyle, and Emily Moloney, as well as substitute rider Jack Kent, erupted in cheers. From the first to the last performance, Team Ireland once again demonstrated that it is a leader in youth development. Four of the five juniors have now also qualified for the individual final.
Denis Flannelly, chef d'equipe of the Irish team: “I am so proud of the entire team, the riders, the horses, their trainers, their families, and the team they have gathered around them here. For us, it's all about the team.
This year, we gave many riders a chance. None of the four tournaments we attended before the European Championships had the same line-up. We started at Sentower Park, then moved on to Compiegne, Zuidwolde, and Hagen. Each of these teams was different, but I want the athletes who didn't make it into the European Championship team here to know that they too were part of this medal and the overall plan.“
Team Germany was able to hold on to a medal position for a long time, but two clear rounds by Fabio Thielen and Emma Bachl and two rounds with one knockdown by Leo Renner and Tony Stormanns were not enough to secure a place on the podium.
102 riders competed in the final jumping competition over a height of 1.40 meters, 62 of them for the individual classification. Course designer Peter Schumacher set the athletes, aged 18 and under, and their four-legged sports partners a challenging and selective course. He received much praise for this from the athletes and their coaches.
As is customary in youth championships, the ten best teams from the preliminary round each sent four team riders into battle for the team medal, with the three best results counting. All riders from the three most successful countries were then awarded medals. “No one goes home empty-handed here,” said judge Klaus Blässing.
Naomi Himmelreich, selected as an individual rider for Germany, delivered an impressive clear round and now has the best prospects of winning an individual medal in Saturday's final, currently fourth in the interim standings with her eight-year-old mare Flying Kiss.
Results here: https://results.hippodata.de/
