British horses sail through European eventing final trot up
There have been no major dramas in the trot up prefacing the final day of sport at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships at Malmo, Sweden. The British horses sailed through looking fit and fabulous. The British team is now without Lucy Wiegersma, however, who was eliminated after a fall yesterday on course with Simon Porloe. The horse is fine but Lucy is reportedly pretty bruised after the horse rolled on her on landing.
The Germans currently lie in the gold medal position with more than 2 fences in hand over the second placed Swedes. The French are 3rd, a further 14.8pen adrift. All their horses passed the vet today.
Only 3 horses did not present at the vet’s inspection today: French individual Lionel Guyon with Nemetis de Lalou; Swedish individual Sandra Gustafsson’s lovely mare Top Select, who appeared quite lame after pulling up yesterday; and Elaine Pen’s Vira, for the Netherlands, which sadly means the Dutch will not complete as a team having already lost Althea Bleekman who fell yesterday. Italian individual Lino Paparella was allowed to continue to the final phase with Dunbeggin Imp after being examined by a vet in the holding box. But Swedish individual rider Linda Algotsson withdrew her 16 year old mare La Fair from the holding box, so 48 now go through to showjump.
The final showjumping phase starts at 10am UK time. Britain’s hopes of a team medal have all but evaporated, as we lie in sixth place after cross country. But William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning lie in the individual silver medal position behind Germany’s Michael Jung, who has two fences in hand over him.
Team positions after cross country
- Germany, 112.2pen
- Sweden, 120.6pen
- France 135.4pen
- Italy, 149.4pen
- Belgium 162.2pen
- Great Britain: 167.6pen
- Ireland: 205.8pen
Individual placings after cross country
- Michael Jung (GER), Halunke FBW, 28.6pen
- William Fox-Pitt (GBR), Chilli Morning, 36.6pen
- Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE), Shamwari 4, 38pen
- Ingrid Klimke (GER), FRH Escada JS, 39.4pen
- Sara Algotsson-Ostholt (SWE). Reality 39, 40.6pen
- Niklas Lindback (SWE), Mister Pooh, 42pen
- Nicolas Touzaint (FRA), Lesbos, 42pen
- Peter Thomsen (GER), Horseware’s Cayenne, 42.6pen
- Tina Cook (GBR), Miners Frolic, 43.4pen
Log back on later for a final update from the European Championships and don’t miss next week’s H&H for our full 10-page special report, including full analysis and comments from ground jury member Christian Landolt, British team rider Tina Cook and former European champion Ian Stark.
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Lucy edited Horse & Hound from March 2002 until June 2014 and never had a dull day. She events (very badly) for fun, hunts whenever she can, and has written on topics ranging from embryo transfer to fall simulators. She’s reported from the 2006 Aachen World Equestrian Games and 2011 European Eventing Championships.