British team medal hopes dashed at Europeans
At roughly the halfway stage of the HSBC FEI Malmo European Eventing Championships cross country, British team hopes are sadly in shreds. Pippa Funnell had a runout at fence 22 on Mirage D’Elle and a cluster of time penalties with it, and second team rider Lucy Wiegersma (above at another event) had a fall when Simon Porloe left a shoulder jumping Fence 8, a boat. Horse and rider were soon back on their feet, if looking mightily disappointed.
Britain languishes in eighth position at the halfway stage. Not since 1993 has Britain failed to return from a European eventing championships without a team medal.
Hopes of an individual medal remain very much alive though, with William Fox-Pitt and Tina Cook still to go (second and 12th after dressage respectively), plus British individual Izzy Taylor on KBIS Briarland Matilda, who lie ninth after a personal best dressage test yesterday.
The Germans and the Swedes continue to battle it out for top honours, their first having both jumped clear inside the time.
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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.