Monday, 2 August 2010

Curtain falls on the FEI European Pony Championships

As the sun came up on Monday, Bishop Burton College's campus was a very different place to the International competition site it has been since last Monday.

No national anthems, no young people playing horseball (minus the horses) outside York Yard and no crowds of people craning for views around the Championship and International Arenas.

The five days of competition have been declared by competitors, officials and organisers alike an overwhelming success.

Competition President Jeanette Dawson said:

"This has been a successful European Championship event, the like of which has not been seen for many, many years.

"I have received the thanks and congratulations of competitors, officials and sponsors for a superbly run event delivered with professionalism and enthusiasm."

Sunday, 1 August 2010

Birthday boy takes final gold of Pony Championships







Irish show jumper Bertram Allen took the gold in the individual showjumping competition, bringing down the curtain on a fantastic 2010 FEI European Pony Championships at Bishop Burton College.

Fifteen today, Allen was contesting his first European Championship but claimed he came to “win gold” and did so with a faultless performance across the competition. He has been partnering Acapella Z for the last two years and trainer Con Power commented: “It is always a privilege to train good horses and good jockeys. I have trained this partnership from day one and they have always been on an upwards curve.”

It was a closely contested competition right to the end with none of the top three riders lowering a rail across all the rounds. The silver medal went to Julie de Pelsmaeker from Belgium who finished on just one fault with Sambo Lino.

Niels Knape from the Netherlands took the bronze with just two faults, commenting: “I’ve had a great time here, I’m really happy. I came here for gold but I’m still very happy.”

British rider Amy Inglis on Nils D’Hurl Vent lowered just one pole in the first round and produced an excellent clear round on the final day to finish in joint fourth with just four faults. She said: “It felt really good today, the pony went really well and he really enjoyed himself. I put the one fence I had in the first round down to nerves but I trusted my pony to look after me and he came back brilliantly.”

Katrina Moore, Chef d’Equipe for the British Team was pleased with the overall performance of, “The team went very well,” she said, “Amy went superbly, she made a small mistake in the first round but it was just nerves. She is only 13 and she came back from it so she did really well. We have two very young riders on the team and they all did brilliantly.”

British rider Emily Roe, who finished in 16th position on Aroldo, collected the award for the highest placed British bred horse from the Sports Pony Stud Book Society. The pony had previously been to a European Championship with Emily’s older sister Rebecca in 2006. “I’ve had a great week,” said Emily, “It just wasn’t a week for the British in terms of medals.”

Gold medal-winning eventing team presented with Point-2 Air Jackets


All members of the gold medal winning eventing team, Team GB, were presented with an air jacket courtesy of Point-2, the silver medal winners, Team Germany, were presented with a limited-edition print, while bronze-medal winners Team Belgium were awarded polo shirts courtesy of Chukka.


Chukka have also provided the official t-shirts for the Championships.

Germany and the Netherlands complete dressage domination in the Kur

Golden Girl and Antoinette Te Riele on their way to Gold in the Kur


Germany and the Netherlands complete dressage domination in the Kur
Germany and the Netherlands again dominated the dressage at the FEI European Pony Championships, in the Freestyle Championship (the Kur).

Dutch rider Antoinette Te Reile on Golden Girl took the spoils on an impressive 78.45%, in what was another closely fought contest that saw Friday’s three individual medalists on the podium again, but each with a different coloured medal.

Gold medalist Te Riele, who went one better than in Friday’s individual competition was delighted, she commented: "I’m really, really happy, especially as this is my last year on ponies. She went really well in the test; I was just a bit ahead of my music at times. I will be hoping to be on the junior team next year."

Germany’s Lena Charlott Walterscheidt and Deinhard B also went one better than their individual bronze to secure the silver on a score of 77.90%. She said: "Today he was a bit scared by the music and he didn’t feel very confident but by the end he felt very good and I did the best I could today."

Individual gold medalist, Jessica Krieg had to settle for bronze this time round on a score of 76.50% but was still pleased with Danilo’s performance, "He was very brave and really good today, he concentrated very well."

Great Britain’s Claire Gallimore continued her excellent form to secure the fifth spot with Gigolo on an impressive 74.10%.

Team Gold and Individual Silver for Britain’s Pony Team







In an exciting and exhilarating finish to the 2010 Pony European Championships, The Charles Owen British Pony Team has won the Gold on home soil some 43.1 points ahead of their nearest rivals, Germany.

It has been 3 years since Britain last won the Gold back in 2007 at Freudenberg and yesterdays Cross Country saw the six British Riders prove that they deserved the gold when they were the only nation to complete with six clear rounds. This was all credit to team coach Jonquil Hemming who has worked with the riders on the run up to the championships and through out the week to get the best from them. This was also a great result for Pony Chairman Ginnie Keen who retires that the end of this year and will certainly bow out on a massive high.

She was justifiably proud of her young team – three of whom are GB team debutantes.

“This year I’ve had six of the best riders and team mates I’ve had in a long time. They have been absolutely fantastic throughout the week and I could not be more proud. Thank you to all of our support team who have been fantastic, especially our team trainer Jonquil (Hemming) who is exceptional. I must also thank the grooms, parents, sponsors, World Class and British Eventing who have all been fantastic.”

She congratulated the team – “Well done all of you.”

Individually all the British Riders rode superb rounds and occupy most of the top 10 places. Grace Walker and the ever- reliable Noble Springbok held their nerve lowing just one pole but still securing the individual Silver medal. Sophie Beaty narrowly missed out on an individual bronze finishing just .3 behind Sarah O' Brien from Ireland.

Silver medalist Grace said: “I was very nervous in the showjumping even though I had a fence in hand over third, I was definitely feeling the pressure.”

Irish Chef d’Equipe Sue Short thanked the college for a ‘true Championship’ and an excellent event – “It was a true cross-country course and a very technical, up to height show jumping track.”

Team Results

Gold – Great Britain 155.3
Silver – Germany 198.4
Bronze – Belgium 210.0

Individual Results

Gold Marissa Braig GER 48.5
Silver Grace Walker GBR 50.9
Bronze Sarah O’Brien IRL 51.0

4th Sophie Beaty GBR 51.3
5th Sam Ecroyd GBR 53.1
7th Alfie Bradstock GBR 55.9
10th Sophie How GBR 58.0
11th Harry Humfrey GBR 64.8