The FEI Jumping European Championship for Young Riders, Juniors and Children 2022 in Oliva Nova, Spain, continued on Friday with the team final for the Young Riders, as well as the second individual qualifier for the Children – which also counted as the first round of their team final.
The second and final round of the Young Riders’ team final – set at 1.50m –
was presented by Roelofsen Horsetrucks. After the first round of the team final, Great Britain was leading the way on a score of 6.84, followed by Belgium on 14.08 in second, Germany on 16.17 in third, Ireland on 21.96 in fourth and France on 23.47 in fifth.
Belgium really put pressure on Great Britain today, with clear rounds from Thibault Philippaerts and Derby de Riverland (Kannan x L’Arc de Triomphe), Thibeau Spits and Classic Touch DH (Casall x Corrado I) as well as Roy Van Beek and Chacco Me Biolley (Chacco-Blue x Argentinus) – which meant the team could discharge the four faults from Tristan Guisson and Naturelle vh Legitahof Z (Nabab de Reve x For Pleasure), adding nothing to their overnight score of 14.08.
Germany also performed strong in today’s team final for Young Riders. Johanna Beckmann on Emelie van de Mirania Stam (Emerald x Concorde) and Henrike Ostermann on Air Force One 19 (Arpeggio x Conterno Grande) jumped clear for the Germans, and when Hannes Ahlmann on Baloucan (Baloubet du Rouet x Cancara) only picked up one time fault, the German team could drop Matthis Westendarp’s eight faults and finish on a total score of 17.17 – sitting just behind the Belgians.
With a clear from Lily Attwood and Cor-Leon vd Vlierbeek Z (Calvaro F.C. x Omar) and one down on the very last line from Grace Debney on Boheme de La Roque (Kannan x Quick Star), Great Britain held on to their lead until the very last horse-and-rider combination entered the ring. However, with nine faults from Lila Bremner and Memphis vd Vaart (Elvis Ter Putte x Up Chiqui), anchor pair Oliver Fletcher and Hello William (Waldo Van Dungen x Stakkato) had to deliver a clear round to secure the gold for the Brits. Unfortunately for Fletcher, two poles fell and with a total of twelve faults to add to their score, Great Britain dropped down behind Belgium and Germany, to finish with the bronze on 18.84.
Belgian Chef d’Equipe Rik Deraedt had a hard time believing the end result. At last year’s FEI Jumping European Championship for Young Riders, Juniors and Children, the Belgian teams won gold in each age group – and one year later, their winning streak has continued in Oliva Nova. “This is incredible, who would have thought,” he smiled. “If we had a podium finish, I would have been happy with that. I did not expect this, not at all. We are competing with 18 countries, all with good riders and horses. We were third in the beginning, then second, and we had to wait until the last British rider had jumped to win – this was incredible; we had a lucky day. We have good horses and good riders; I am so happy. These kinds of championships are so important for the youth, so that they can show how good they are and how they can handle pressure already when they are young. I think afterwards, when they are seniors, these experiences will help them.”
“I am very happy with the way she jumped, I think she jumped better than yesterday,” Thibeau Spits said about his horse Classic Touch DH. “Today’s round was maybe a little bit easier in height, but quite technical, especially the line with the liverpool and the last line. My horse passed all the difficulties easily, so I have a very good feeling ahead of the individual final. Every important moment, she has been there for me.”
Thibault Philippaerts was also pleased with his horse Derby de Riverland. “I am very happy, even if my round did not go as planned,” he explained. “I was meant to do seven leading up to the combination, but I ended up doing six. I was very lucky to have a very good, careful horse who was thinking with me today.”