Britain wins gold at European pony eventing championships

Britain’s eventing team triumphed today at the Pony Europeans at Bishop Burtom, beating Germany into silver with a margin of over 43pen, with Belgium taking the bronze.

Grace Walker won individual silver with Noble Springbok, finishing two penalties behind gold medal winner Marissa Berg, 15, and Andy from Germany. Ireland’s Sarah O’Brien took bronze on Ice Cool Bailey.

The British team went into the show jumping with nine fences in hand, but only spent two of them. Sophie Beaty with Done and Dusted VI and Sam Ecroyd with Catherston Nutsafe jumped clear finishing in fourth and fifth respectively, with Alfie Bradstock and Montezuma II (7th) and Sophie both dropping a rail apiece.

Individual riders Sophie How and Hotshots and Harry Humfrey with Tantany Torch were 10th and 11th.

Retiring chef d’equip Ginnie Keen said she’d had her dream team of three girls and three boys. “They are rode superbly, supported each other and no one was a prima donna!”

In the dressage kur, Antoinette Te Riele and Golden Girl took gold for the Dutch, with Lena Walterscheidt and Deinhard B and Jessica Kreig with Danilo taking silver and bronze for Germany.

Read H&H’s full report on all the action from the Pony European Championships in next Thursday’s magazine, on sale 5 August

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