Eight of Britain’s most talented young riders have returned from a successful Italian trip to Arezzo for the Young Rider and Junior European Championships 2014. No medals were secured but there were promising performances from new faces and personal bests by others.
The Young Rider quartet didn’t have perfect preparations when selected rider Pippa Hutton was forced to withdraw her ride Belmondo which brought in Jess Knapton and Di Spirito for their debut at this level. Plus, with less than two weeks to go before the horses set off for Italy, Sam Thurman-Baker also had to step down, bringing Gaby Lucas into the mix. It was World Class Development rider Ryan Todd’s team debut but ‘veteran’ of British Teams, Olivia Oakeley, who’s represented her country since 2010 with Donna Summer, was there to lend experience and words of wisdom.
The team tests were first to decide the team honours and Gaby took the role of pathfinder with her own ‘gentle giant’, Laurentius and a score of 67.421% gave a solid starting platform. Jess was second to go on Di Spirito and their 66.816% was again a good enough score to leave the team in the hunt for a bronze medal. The Germans and Dutch were dominant as ever and the fight for gold was clearly going to be between them. Day two and Ryan was our first rider with Julie Todd’s Charlex Eskebjerg making their British team debut. 66.553% was a good score to keep us in touch. The anchor role went to our most experienced combination, Olivia Oakelely and ‘Rio’. These two have come up through the grades together from novice so they’re a true partnership and they didn’t disappoint. A personal international best of 71.158% in the team test was a great result but sadly left us just outside the medals in fifth – just 3.289%% off bronze. Gold went to Germany, in silver was the Netherlands with Denmark taking a close fought bronze.
Over the two further days of individual tests, all four young riders improved on their team percentages and placings. 68.289% for Gaby and ‘Lause’ gave them 26th place while Jess and Di Spirito scored just fractionally more with 68.447% for 23rd. Ryan improved by just over 2% with ‘Charles’ and 68.605% gave them 21st spot. Again, Olivia was best of the Brits and came oh so close to a coveted medal. Another PB of 73.079% gave them fifth – just 1.42% away from bronze!
Just Olivia qualified for the freestyle with her Dimaggio sired gelding. A range of scores from the five judges gave placings from third to tenth but a final overall percentage left the duo in sixth on 74.7% - a final PB to top a great championship for them. You can watch the video of their Freestyle here.
Junior medal prospects were slightly diminished with the announcement of the retirement of Lottie Fry’s ride Remming, owned by Leslie Connor and Christine Graham but she had an able deputy in Z Flemmenco, owned by her grandmother, Rosemary Shewen. Advanced Medium Freestyle Champions Erin Williams and Fleurie, owned by mum Claire, 2012 Junior team duo Maisie Scruton and Hot Chocolate 43 and Jess Gale riding Umbro S completed the team – all of whom are members of the Sport England funded BEF Excel Talent programme.
Jess was our pathfinder in the team test and scored 67.027% for a great start with Umbro S. Maisie was next up and she posted 68.568% with the Sandro Hit mare Hot Chocolate 43. This left Britain sixth overnight. Junior debutant Erin Williams showed she’s made an easy transition to horses from ponies with a great 70.081% with Fleurie to keep the medal hopes alive. It was then calculators at the ready when Lottie and ‘Dinky’ posted 71% to put us in the medal mix. But it wasn’t to be and we finished fifth, just 2.838% off a bronze. Top honours went to Germany with the Netherlands in silver and Denmark third, a mirror of the young rider result.
In the Individual, Lottie was the star performer with Dinky and 70.447% gave them 14th and a place in the Freestyle. Maisie dropped a few percent with Hot Chocolate with 67% to finish 36th as did Erin and Fleurie; 65.237% gave them 48th place. It was certainly a day to remember, or forget, for Jess who had a nightmare with ‘Neukey’ to score 55.635%. In Jess’ words from Twitter; “Neukey decided today was not our day! Got very scared in the warm up and let his Jazz side kick in! Every horse has a bad day!” But she did sign off her Italian adventure with; “Leaving Arezzo today! It has been full of ups and downs and I have learnt so much! Now on to young riders!”
Even though she’s still just 18, Lottie is already showing a flair for the freestyle and she certainly rose to the challenge on the final day. 73.950% gave her and Dinky tenth place which meant the duo had three 70% + scores each finishing in the top 14 on their team debut together. Lottie said; “I am really pleased, we did three mistake free tests and my horse exceeded all my expectations, he is amazing! We all know each other from doing squad sessions and through the BEF Excel Talent Programme which makes competing as a team much nicer. It was my first time competing in Italy and it was a really nice show.”
The Sport England funded BEF Excel Talent Programme has been developed to extend the rider talent pathway below the UK Sport funded World Class Programme, and to help riders develop to be the best they can be in their chosen discipline. In addition to supporting Equestrian Team GBR, the UK Sport funded World Class Programme also contributes to British Dressage Young Rider, Junior and Pony Teams, to help them prepare for the Championships and deliver medals.
Full results – click here
British results
Young Riders
Olivia Oakeley/Donna Summer
Team - 71.158%, 7th
Individual - 73.079%, 5th
Freestyle – 74.700%, 6th
Gaby Lucas/ Laurentius
Team - 67.421%, 27th
Individual – 68.289%, 26th
Jess Knapton/Di Spirito
Team – 66.816%, 31st
Individual – 68.447%, 23rd
Ryan Todd/Charlex Eskebjerg
Team – 66.553%, 33rd
Individual – 68.605%, 21st
Juniors
Charlotte Fry/Z Flammenco
Team – 71.000%, 10th
Individual – 70.447%, 14th
Freestyle – 73.950%, 10th
Erin Williams/Fleurie
Team – 70.081%, 14th
Individual – 65.237%, 48th
Maisie Scruton/Hot Chocolate 43
Team – 68.568%, 26th
Individual – 67.000%, 36th
Jess Gale/Umbro S
Team – 67.027%, 42nd
Individual – 55.635%, 67th
Picture from Olivia Oakeley's Facebook page.