Britain’s Grade Ia riders continued the standard set by yesterday’s combinations (in the grade Ib and IV classes) as they took the top two spots in the Team test at the ECCO FEI European Championships in Herning, Denmark. Sophie Christiansen got the Brits off to a great start posting a massive 76.391% to take the win ahead of her teammate Anne Dunham, who finished a close second on a superb score of 75.435%.
Sophie produced a fluid test aboard her London 2012 Paralympic Games partner Janeiro 6, scoring particularly highly in her medium walk and transitions. She commented after her test; “The test felt good, not quite as good as my London standard as I played it a little bit safe but I’m really pleased with how he did and I felt that I rode the best I could on the day.
“I love that we’re competing here with dressage and jumping; there’s a lot more of an atmosphere and the camaraderie with the support from the other teams is great. I bought Rio from the Eilberg’s two years ago, so it really shows how good their training is – with a horse in the dressage and para-equestrian dressage teams”.
Anne with the Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Lucas Normark, who made his Championship debut today on home soil (Anne’s horse is Danish born), was delighted with her performance commenting; “I had a really good time out there and he enjoyed being there and was very attentive throughout his test. The arena rode well and there was a very good buzz in the air. Once I’m in there all I think about is me and the horse but there was so much support it was fantastic.
“The whole show has a really good atmosphere and I’m enjoying the size of the event, I think he’s responding really well to it and I’m looking forward to the next few days”.
Britain’s final team rider, Natasha Baker, had a tough time in the Grade II competition with her and Christian Landolt’s Cabral. The JYSK Arena had become quite ‘buzzy’; the crowds were assembling for the evening’s pivotal team showjumping final competition and the Arena is situated in the bustling tradestand area. This made preparing for the test tricky and some horses reacted strongly, including Dutch and Danish rides and Natasha’s ‘JP’.
They started the test well but then the atmosphere got the better of JP (Cabral) and his normal cool manner abandoned him. Natasha, in her first ever Team ride, managed to get him back after the walk but then movement in the crowd set him off again. The final score of 69.765% was a respectable one and enough for second spot.
A disappointed Natasha commented; “The Dutch horse really set ‘JP’ off and put him on edge. I managed to get him back in the walk and he felt good – he took a breath and relaxed. But then people got up and walked out of the stands which set him off again which I’m a bit angry about; yesterday there were stewards controlling it but not today. All the hard work you put in is undone. I think in the main stadium, he’d have coped easily but our stadium is very spooky and there’s a walkway along behind the judges boxes. It’s amazing to be included here (with the other disciplines) but safety has to be top of the list!”
All three riders have a rest day before competing in their respective Individual Championship tests on Saturday; after which the Individual Championship and Team medals will be decided.
Tomorrow the Grade IV (Sophie Wells) and Ib (Ricky Balshaw) riders return to the arena to contest for their first Individual medals. For their times and results plus today's full scores in each grade - click here.
Photo © Kit Houghton