European champs: Brits prevail in team jumping showdown
Britain’s Olympic gilded medalists added the European Team Jumping Championship championship to their honors listing when pipping the defending champions from FRG inwards Herning, Kingdom of Denmark on Th night.
And a gutsy Swedish side battled through to snatch the bronze inwards a contest that kept spectators on the edges of their seats.
It could hardly receive got been amend scripted, with last-man-in, Britain’s Scott Brash, using upwards all his luck earlier finally clinching the result. He had i debate inwards mitt going into the arena, in addition to when the start chemical component division of the triple combination brutal he couldn’t fifty-fifty afford a unmarried fourth dimension penalisation if his side was to rest out inwards front. He joked after that his team-mates had provided him with some leeway past times their groovy performances, “these are fantastic lads to ride with, in addition to they gave me a window of i debate downward therefore I idea I’d arrive fifty-fifty to a greater extent than exciting in addition to role it!”
But he managed to exit the ease of the course of study intact to convey the championship dorsum to UK of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland for the start fourth dimension inwards 24 years.
Team-mate Michael Whitaker, was on that winning side inwards Rotterdam inwards 1989 amongst his older blood brother John, Nick Skelton in addition to the belatedly Joe Turi. “Was it actually that long ago?” asked Michael Whitaker when he was reminded of that achievement.
There were xiii clear rounds over Frank Rothenberger’s novel track, in addition to alone the exceed 10 teams went into this in conclusion circular of the squad competition.
It was similar a bike of fortune equally the contest played itself out, the wages swinging wildly inwards i direction in addition to and therefore another. The existent battle was fought betwixt the leading v teams, in addition to with 3 clear rounds each the fifth-placed Swedes in addition to fourth-placed Germans held their ground.
But it looked at i phase equally if Germany, lying quaternary overnight, powerfulness simply clinch it. Carsten-Otto Nagel in addition to Corradina were the alone ones to error equally Daniel Deusser (Cornet Amour), Christian Ahlmann (Codex One) in addition to Ludger Beerbaum (Chiara) were all foot-perfect to proceed them on their second-day running tally of 12.77.
It was all hanging inwards the residuum equally Scott Brash entered the telephone with his Olympic squad gilded medal winning ride Hello Sanctos. Whitaker was the alone fellow member of the British squad to error when Viking hitting the vertical after the H2O but Will Funnell galloped to the rescue with a clear with Billy Congo. With their nearest rivals slipping downward the order, in addition to Maher having laid them upwards with yet some other pathfinding clear from Cella, Brash had that debate inwards mitt equally he laid off on his mission, but he admitted after that he was taken aback when he heard the start chemical component division of the triple combination hitting the dirt.
“I was surprised when he had it (hit the fence) but looking dorsum on it now, I came downward on half dozen strides in addition to was a flake off it. I knew earlier I started I had to live careful of the fourth dimension therefore I wasn’t actually worried most the clock” he explained. And equally he galloped through the complete the crowd roared their blessing for the British success.
The awards ceremony was made all the to a greater extent than poignant equally it was FEI First Vice-President John McEwen who presented the medals. McEwen is Great Britain’s longest serving Team Vet, supporting both the jumping in addition to dressage teams in addition to is the Head of Equine Sports Science in addition to Medicine for the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Programme.
British Chef d’Equipe, Rob Hoekstra, said afterward, “obviously I’m delighted, it was lx years since nosotros won Olympic gilded in conclusion year. We’ve been making an endeavour to win a Championship championship for a long time, but the Germans receive got been fantastic at Championship level. Now nosotros desire to live equally skillful equally them or to overtake them! Congratulations to Sweden for making a groovy comeback today past times the way,” he added.
German Chef d’Equipe, Otto Becker, was gracious inwards defeat. “We could win or live 6th until the end, it was real close, nosotros had to hold back to run into how it would be. My squad actually fought in addition to I’m totally happy with silver. Congratulations to the English linguistic communication for this win, they deserved it, in addition to to Sweden too. This was groovy advertising for showjumping today – everyone enjoyed it!”
With Olympic in addition to instantly European squad gilded already ticked off his wish-list, Brash joked this evening that when it comes to medals he’s a flake spoiled. “I’m used to gold, therefore whatever other color wouldn’t live equally skillful now!”
Maher goes into Saturday’s top-25 private in conclusion yet at the exceed of the leaderboard but with alone the smallest advantage. Asked what he idea of his chances he replied “European Championships inwards my eyes are to a greater extent than hard to win than Olympics because every circular counts. But Cella is an unbelievable Equus caballus to ride, she has her ain means in addition to she’s wonderful. There’s yet a long means to become in addition to a lot of riders unopen together, but if I receive got 2 to a greater extent than clear rounds that volition live plenty …”
Additional reporting: BEF
Final results
Gold Great Britain (12.18)
Silver Germany (12.77)
Bronze Sweden (13.44)
Images below © Paul Harding/Lewis Harding Images
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