At the FEI Jumping European Championship for Young Riders, Juniors and Children 2022 in Oliva Nova, Spain, medals were decided in Saturday's competitions: First in the individual final for the Juniors, then in the team final for the Children.
Presented by Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort, Saturday’s individual final for the Juniors had the best 29 horse-and-rider combinations of the week at start. Ahead of the final, Belgium’s Evelyne Putters was holding the lead on a score of 0.84, followed by Dutch rider Nick Nanning on 2.43 in second, Hungary’s Gyula Szuhai Jr. on 2.75 in third, Spain’s Olivia Alvarez Garcia on 2.96 in fourth and Norway’s Ingrid Sandhei Bjørklund on 2.98 in fifth. However, the top eight were within four penalties, and the two final rounds over 1.40m courses set by Santiago Varela shook up the standings.
After the first round, clears from Finland’s Jone Illi and Eolita L (Verdi TN x Daimler), Belgium’s Aurealia Guisson and No Limit vh Legitahof Z (Nabab de Reve x Berlin) as well as Ireland’s Francis Derwin and AHG Whiterock Cruise Down (Cruisings Micky Finn x Touchdown) moved them up on the leader board – with Illi taking the lead on a score of 3.03 ahead of Guisson in second on 3.40 and Derwin in third on 4 penalty points. A foot in the water for Putters and Nabeau van het Migroveld Z (Nabab de Reve x Taran de La Pomme) left her sitting fourth with a total score of 4.84 after round one, while Ireland’s Tom Wachman and Lazzaro Delle Schiave (Acodetto 2 x Gluecksgriff) jumped clear – putting pressure on the top four, as he was sitting fifth on 6.18.
There was no margin for error as the Juniors took to the second round of their individual final. Last year’s European Champion in the Children’s category, Hungary’s Gyula Szuhai Jr. jumped clear, ending his first Junior Championship on a total score of 6.75 – eventually good enough for the fifth place. Dutch rider Nick Nanning and Bandia (Clinsmann 2 x Quintero) also jumped clear, moving them up to fourth with a total score of 6.43. Clear rounds from the Belgian team gold medallists Putters and Guisson saw them finish on scores of 4.84 and 3.40 respectively, securing them another medal – the question was which one it would be. As last to go, Finland’s Jone Illi and the wonderful Eolita L made light work of the second and last round of the individual final. Finishing clear, the pair ended their week in Oliva Nova with a total score of 3.03, taking home the individual gold, while Guisson added silver to her collection and Putters bronze.
“I had an excellent week, my horse was absolutely top,” Illi said after his victory. “We just jumped the Nordic Baltic Championships, where we won and it is only a week ago. She has jumped absolutely perfect, even if it is hot – in Finland it is never weather like this!”
“I did not expect this at all, it is awesome. I have had Eolita for three years, she came to me from the Netherlands. She is very spicy, but she always gives her best, she is a lovely horse,” Illi smiled.
source: Press Release
