Charlotte DUJARDIN (GBR) riding Valegro in the Individual Final Grand Prix Freestyle to Music at the FEI European Championships in Aachen, Germany on 16 August 2015
After a 13-day equestrian extravaganza (11-23 August 2015), the FEI European Championships in Aachen are over in a blur of tears, tension and relief. And if you’re suffering from withdrawal symptons, you can comfort yourself in the knowledge that it is only 15 days until the FEIEuropean Eventing Championships at Blair kick off and just 346 days until the Rio Olympics…
In the grand prix special Charlotte and Valegro clinched the title ahead Kristina Bröring-Sprehe with Desperados FRH amid the drama of Totilas being withdrawn beforehand and Edward Gal being eliminated. And in the freestyle Charlotte retained her second individual title — despite mistakes in the one-time changes. Bring on Rio 2016…
Team qualification for Rio was on our agenda and that’s what we went away with. The team (Joe Clee, Michael Whitaker, Jessica Mendoza and Ben Maher) finished in fourth place, just 0.76 of a penalty away from a bronze medal.
Joe was best of the Brits in the individual competition, finishing in 15th place with Ludwig Criel’s Utaramo D’Ecaussines — a slightly disappointing result having entered the final day in seventh position. The gold medal went to Jeroen Dubbeldam with SFN Zenith NOP — adding to the world title that they took last year.
Our vaulters picked up a host of top 10 finishes with Hannah Eccles and Lucy Phillips finishing in eighth and ninth place respectively in the individual female competition. Great Britain’s squad of six finished in ninth place in the squad class and in the pas de deux event Andrew McLachlan and Rebecca Norval finished in ninth place.
Britain narrowly missed out on a place on the podium in the reining, finishing fourth behind the Netherlands who took bronze. Italy took the gold and Germany finished in silver position.
Despite sending an experienced squad to Aachen, Britain missed out on the medals — with the Netherlands taking the team gold after the dressage, cones and marathon phases.
To read our special dressage report from the Europeans in Aachen get your copy of the 20 August issue of Horse & Hound magazine, and for all the showjumping action don’t miss this Thursday’s issue (27 August 2015)
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