A horse who went with his young rider from Pony Club to the very top of eventing, winning medals for his country and completing multiple five-star events, has died aged 29 after an idyllic and beloved retirement.

Pardon Me II, who won six medals for Britain, and the under-25 national title, and completed Badminton, Burghley and Lühmuhlen with Emily Routledge (neé Llewellyn), stayed with the Llewellyns until the end, enjoying his extra-large cup of tea – with one sugar – every day.

“We bought P when he was five years old and have been fortunate enough to have him in our lives for 24 years,” Emily’s mother Cindy Llewellyn told H&H.

Emily told H&H she can still remember when she first saw P, at a yard in Holland.

“He was so inquisitive and so cute,” she said. “They were showing me a load of other horses, but I kept circling back to him. So we tried him and liked him.

“He was just the most amazing little horse. I think it was really his character that made him so special. He was so on my team, and he did everything he could for me, always.”

Emily said that in some ways, she had the “blissful ignorance” of youth, and saw no reason why Pardon Me II should not go to the top. And he did.

Together they won the Pony Club championships in their first season, then the next year, 2007, won team gold and individual bronze at the junior Europeans. In 2008 they won team and individual young rider European gold and in 2009 team gold and individual bronze, the year they also won the four-star Bramham under-25 title.

“I think it was just thinking, ‘Why not?’” Emily said. “‘Why can’t he be that?’ And then he always just gave everything. Luckily, he had enough quality and scope, and we just got there together. He taught me so much in my riding.

“And I think I was just in the moment. You just ride the wave all the way and with him, the wave kept going until the very end. I was so lucky with him; it never crashed, it kept going. And he got better and better, and he stayed sound his whole career; that’s mostly thanks to my mum because her management of the horses was amazing, and I was very lucky to have her guiding me the whole way through everything.

“And again, in his retirement, my mum has looked after him like a king.”

Emily said many people were surprised by P’s small stature as he had such a big stride. She paid tribute to the character that took him to the top, citing her particular highlight as the European gold.

“And completing Badminton and Burghley. I felt immensely proud and lucky to have him,” she said. “It’s hard to find words to describe him but he was completely selfless and so generous.”

Emily and Pardon Me II were also on the World Class Programme, competed on Nations Cup teams and were longlisted for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, and the guinea pigs for the dressage phase in London. He retired in 2013, after which Mrs Llewellyn said he had a “wonderful long, happy and very pampered retirement”.

“He was much loved by everyone,” she said.

“We’d have liked perhaps to give him to a youngster to take on but he was cheeky; he’d drop you! Always with a big sense of humour, not malicious at all, so I just gave him a very, very long retirement here, and he had his cup of tea every day. He had a very long tongue, and he used to put his tongue in your ear, then if you had a cup of tea, he’d go straight to that. So we ended up giving him his own gigantic mug every day.

“He’d been sound all the way through, and never colicked, but on Monday night it was his guts. He didn’t suffer. He was so lucky all his life.”

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Leading showjumpers are sharing in baby joy, having welcomed new arrivals in recent weeks.

Riders Emily and Max Routledge celebrated the birth of their daughter, Isla May, on 24 November.

“We couldn’t be prouder and happier, it is incredible to become parents and Isla is absolutely amazing. We love her to bits,” Emily told H&H.

The couple, who run Routledge Sport Horses from their Surrey base, tied the knot in July on their fourth attempt following three pandemic-forced cancellations.

Former event rider Emily was crowned individual eventing European young rider champion and won five team youth gold medals, going on to compete at Badminton and Burghley on 11 occasions.

She made the switch to showjumping full-time in 2019, with top results up to four-star and particular success in young horse international classes.

Max, a former professional polo player who enjoyed success on various high-goal teams, turned his focus to showjumping in 2014. He has since represented Britain on Nations Cup teams and scored wins across Europe.

Emily added that she has “no words to describe what becoming a mummy feels like, I am incredibly lucky she is amazing”.

The 2020 British national champion Louise Saywell and partner international showjumper Graham Lovegrove also welcomed the arrival of their daughter, Daisy, on 3 October.

Louise shared the happy news with a snap of pony Elsa meeting her “new rider” during evening stables.

The couple are both familiar faces on the national and international circuits, with countless wins and top placings across the world.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Showjumpers Emily Llewellyn and Max Routledge have got married – on their fourth attempt.

The Surrey-based couple celebrated their big day on 5 July in a church ceremony, followed by a marquee reception at home.

Emily is a former event rider who represented Great Britain consecutively at pony, junior and young rider level – and went on to complete Badminton five times before switching to showjumping full-time in 2019. Max, a producer of young horses, has competed to grand prix level and represented Great Britain on Nations Cup teams. The couple have been together 12 years and run Routledge Sport Horses in Guildford.

Emily and Max got engaged in 2019 and had originally been due to get married on 25 May last year but this was cancelled owing to Covid. The wedding was rescheduled for August 2020, and May 2021 but these dates were also cancelled because of the pandemic.

“This was our fourth date so it was nice to finally have the day! The cancellations were annoying because we’ve been together a long time and wanted to get on with it but it’s been the same for everybody,” Emily told H&H.

“My mum Cindy has been amazing, she was in charge of organising most of the wedding for me so she’s dealt with all of the changes and things like that.”

Event riders Gemma Tattersall and Laura Collett were bridesmaids alongside Sarah Hollett and Sophie Dove, while equestrian illustrator Emily Cole designed the couple’s wedding invitations.

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“We had a little cartoon of the two of us on our favourite horses; Max was on his first top horse Typhoon and I was on Sieco, my good horse at the moment,” said Emily.

“My bridesmaids were amazing, they’ve been really supportive the whole way through. We had the wedding on a Monday because weekends don’t work for most of our horsey friends. It was a really nice day and everyone had fun, it was nice to have a social thing since Covid.”

Although Emily made her way to compete at Bolesworth International Horse Show, the couple are now enjoying a couple of days on honeymoon in Cornwall.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A “minor injury” to Sallie Rylie’s Mulrys Error has ruled the popular horse and his equally popular rider Ben Hobday out of travelling to the USA, where they were due to make their British Nations Cup debut at The Plains on 8-9 July.

Ben’s team-mate James Sommerville will not make the trip either as his own and his mother Jennifer’s horse Talent has also incurred a minor injury.

“It is anticipated that both horses will soon be out competing again in the not too distant future. We thank both riders and their owners for making the horses available,” said a statement from British Eventing.

USA-based Brit Justine Dutton has been boosted up from the reserve spot and will now join the team on Jak My Style. Emily Llewellyn has been called up and will make the trip to the USA with Emirati Nightsky. She said on Facebook that her whole team is “super excited”.

The other two team members, Matthew Heath and his own and Hazel Livesey’s One Of A Kind II and Nicky Roncoroni with her mother Janey and Lorna McWilliam’s Watts Burn, are unchanged.

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This is the second year the USA has hosted a leg of the Nations Cup at The Plains. Britain finished third of the three teams competing last year, represented by Jodie Amos (Wise Crack, third), Ben Way (Willows Tipster, 26th), Justine Dutton (Huck Finn, 36th) and Ros Canter (Zenshera, eliminated for a fall across country). The USA won, with Canada second.

Britain currently holds first place in the 2017 Nations Cup overall standings, after finishing second at all three competitions so far (Strzegom, Houghton and Tattersalls). The next fixture on the calendar is Wiener Neustadt in Austria (30 June-2 July), followed by The Plains, Aachen in Germany (19-23 July), Haras du Pin (10-13 August), Waregem in Belgium (22-24 September) and Boekelo in the Netherlands (5-8 October).

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Want to find the secret behind top riders' achievements? Stephanie Bateman discovers successful eventers' training tips

1. Harry Meade (pictured above)

“Don’t look for eureka moments. Training a horse is similar to that of a gymnast – they can’t bend over and place their hands flat on the ground straight away, it requires years of development where you are looking for a virtually undetectable improvement each day in terms of physical development. It’s about correct athletic training which is constant and repetitive but easy, and then you are not forcing the horse’s body to perform something which is uncomfortable.”

2. Daisy Berkeley

“Keep everything black and white. Clarity in training avoids confusion for the horse and rider. If an exercise is not performed as you wish, repeat until the desired result is achieved, and then reward. Try to avoid punishment for mistakes, but reward good effort and successful outcomes.”

3. Laura Collett

“Always have a goal of what you want to achieve and then make a plan of how you’re going to achieve it. Accept that things go wrong and work through any problems in a calm way. I use this motto at the beginning of a training session as well as the beginning of the season.”

4. Tom McEwen

“I have been taught about six key principles and I apply them to my daily training for both jumping and dressage. In order of importance they are; rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness and collection. I keep these in my mind every time I ride to ensure I’m on the right track.”

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5. Chris Burton

“For amateur riders still improving their feel for a distance to a fence, use poles each day while you flat school your horses. Seeing a distance to the pole is no different than seeing a distance to the fence, and it can also become a flatwork exercise as you lengthen and shorten your horse’s stride between two poles. Start with two poles about five strides apart and do anywhere from three forward extended canter strides up to ten collected canter strides. Also be fussy on yourself in regards to straightness on the line over and between the poles.”

6. Emily Llewellyn

“If you have a limited time to ride, go for a hack or exercise on the track, don’t try and start something new. When teaching a horse something new or tricky, you need time to ensure the horse understands what you have asked and give it time to sink in, rather than rush the process and end up confusing the horse even more.”

7. Mary King

“If you are fortunate enough to have your own arena and all-weather gallops, don’t be tempted to use them all the time. Try to get out onto the grass as much as possible in preparation for competitions. Horse’s muscles and ligaments need to be trained for the surfaces they will compete on.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Emily Llewellyn certainly made an impressive start to her eventing career — she collected eight European medals at under-21 championships, and is the only rider to have ever won the national championships for under-16s, under-18s, under-21s and under-25s.

Now 25, Emily has a wise head on a young person’s shoulders.

“In the grand scheme of things, three years is a very short period in life,” she says, referring to juggling her final years in youth eventing with studying for a business and management degree at Sussex university, gaining herself a 2:1 degree.

This should help her and boyfriend Max Routledge with their stud business.

Max is a polo player in the summer months and grand prix showjumper the rest of the year, and his parents own Paddock Woods stud, where Emily is now based. The two met at a World Class training day in 2009.

She jokes: “I have a lot to thank the World Class scheme for!”

The pair have enviable facilities: 26 boxes, summer turnout, a wood chip exercise track, irrigated exercise fields for jumping and dressage arenas, an all-weather manège, a horse walker and the most enchanting hacking on the doorstep.

“The showjumpers and eventers are all stabled together and then the mares and geldings for the stud are kept separately, to stop the mares coming into season at the wrong time,” says Emily.

The stud has all the services and equipment necessary for collecting semen and a lab on site to check the quality, chill it and prepare it for shipping.

Don’t miss the April edition of Eventing magazine, out on Saturday 21 March, 2015, including the full interview with Emily Llewellyn

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Eventer Emily Llewellyn’s former young riders partner Society Spice has died aged 19.

Emily’s mother Cindy found the gelding in the field on New Year’s Eve (31 December).

“I went to fetch the horses in at 4pm, and I’d seen him just half an hour earlier,” Cindy told H&H.

“He wasn’t at the gate though, so I went over. He just laid down and died, it was so peaceful, a wonderful way to go. He didn’t have a fit, he was just so calm. I almost thought he was joking and that he’d get up, he seemed to have a grin on his face.”

She added that he had been “as happy as anything” earlier in the day, “playing with his old friend Pardon Me II”.

“Society Spice had such an amazing life; he was part of the family and was spoilt rotten,” she said.

The gelding took Emily round her first Badminton when she was just 19 in 2009. The pair finished 22nd.

The following year the combination were 15th at Badminton. The same season they also finished second in the CIC3* at Barbury Castle.

Society Spice last competed at the Young Rider Europeans in 2010.

“He retired after that and was just enjoying life, nannying youngsters in the field,” said Cindy.

“He was an incredible foot-in-the-door for Emily.”

Cindy added that Emily had ridden him just a week earlier (see video top).

“Emily came down to visit for Christmas and said she’d love to ride him,” said Cindy.

“He hadn’t been ridden in a few years and he was so excited, squealing and having a little buck. He didn’t look nearly 20 years old.

“Emily was very emotional to be back on him. She was so thrilled, he was such a fun horse. We are all very sad.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Enjoy the H&H team’s top tweets from the equestrian twitterverse this week.

The week on twitter

Rodrigo Pessoa as you have never seen him before

We bet Emily Llwellyn was popular with those in the queue behind her —the things people will do for a Big Mac…

It’s great to hear that Lissa Green has recovered from her awful fall and we wish her luck for the rest of the eventing season

We think comedian Jack Whitehall has possibly one of the best named horses in history

Nicki Strong has hit the nail on the head here

This is what happened when firefighter Lottie Sutcliffe left her H&H mag unattended at work

We hear you Amy Symons

Ruth Mealey’s foal sadly had other ideas on how to look beautiful

Just looking at Tim Stockdale’s impressive dismount makes us wince

If you like this, why not follow @horseandhound on twitter today?

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Emily Llewellyn’s 4-star eventer Pardon Me II has been retired.

The 17-year-old gelding is owned by 25-year-old rider Emily and her mother, Cindy.

As well as picking up numerous medals at junior and young rider levels, the pair also competed at Badminton and Burghley.

Pardon Me will remain at the Llewellyn’s East Sussex home in his retirement.

“‘P’ as he is affectionately known, has exceeded all Emily’s dreams. He has been a stalwart of Pony Club, junior, young rider and senior Nations Cup teams and taken Emily from Pony Club to 4-stars,” said Cindy.

“He doesn’t owe us anything. He’ll be staying with us, spending his retirement with his best friend Society Spice.

“He’ll just hack and maybe do a bit of dressage.”

The Llewellyns found P in Holland in 2005, hoping that he “might have the potential to bring on and maybe do juniors with”.

Emily produced the horse, starting at pre-novice in 2006. The pair went on to win the Pony Club Championships the same year.

In 2007 they won their first individual medal at the junior European championships at Avenches in Switzerland and team gold.

The following year they became young rider champions, winning double gold at the young rider European championships.

In 2009, they won the under-25 Championships at Bramham and team gold and individual bronze at the young rider European championship in Belgium.

The pair competed on the British Nations Cup team in 2013 in Fontainbleau and at Houghton Hall, helping Great Britain to win the Nations Cup series for 2013.

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The squad that will represent Britain in the 3rd leg of the FEI Nations Cup Series, which is taking place on home soil at Houghton Hall, Norfolk (22-25 May), has been selected.

The 4 team members have been named as:

• Ros Canter (Zenshera)
• David Doel (Koyuna Sun Magic, owned by the rider, Maggie Doel and Jane James)
• Dani Evans (Smart Time, owned by Luana Edge)
• Emily Llewellyn (Junior II, owned by Cindy Llewellyn)

Britain currently lies in 2^nd place in the overall Nations Cup rankings after the first 2 competitions this year with a total of 19 points. France leads with 20 points.

All 4 members have received call-ups before, although David Doel has yet to compete in the series after the Polish leg, in which he was due ride last year, was cancelled.

Team manager Philip Surl said of the team: “We were all thrilled with Ros Canter and Zenshera’s first result as part of the Nations Cup squad at Ballindenisk (team pictured top) where they finished in a very respectable 5^th place.

“David Doel and Koyuna Sun Magic have been a strong partnership for some time and Dani Evans showed a lot of promise on the Nations Cup squad last year where she and [her other horse] Raphael II came 7th in Montelibretti.

“Emily Llewellyn and Junior II return to Houghton for their 2^nd successive Nations Cup with good recent form, having taken 13th place in the CIC3* at Belton.”

See pictures of the full British squad from which riders are being selected for each leg of the FEI Nations Cup Series.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Leading riders have expressed concern that Britain is not sending a team to this year’s World University Equestrian Championships — because the format does not help develop elite riders.

The event, which takes place in Abu Dhabi in March, follows the same format as the popular British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) league competitions in the UK. Riders are given an unknown horse provided by the venue. They have around 10min to warm up before doing a dressage test and a round of showjumping.

The final consists of a prix st georges standard test and a 1.30m course.

Previous winners of the BUCS national title include event riders William Fox-Pitt and Emily Llewellyn. William also won the showjumping element of the World Championships.

Student representative Henry Wormersley-Smith said the decision, by BUCS, not to send a British team this year made no sense.

“University equestrian sport is already hugely underfunded, with riders having to provide the vast majority of costs through fundraising. This flies in the face of Britain’s supposed Olympic legacy,” he said.

Britain did not win a medal at the last World University Equestrian Championships, at Aachen in 2012, but had previously come home with at least one medal at every event since 1997.

William Fox-Pitt said it was a “huge shame” that BUCS was not sending a British university team to this year’s championships.

“They provide a fantastic experience, particularly to riders not able to own or finance their own horse,” he added. “The format also encourages riders to be adaptable and astute.”

Emily Llewellyn, who won the BUCS national title in 2009, said the World Championships were “a really good platform to meet people and make contacts, especially for riders without family backing”.

But BUCS — which took the decision following discussions with the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) — insisted they “did not help future Olympians”.

A spokesman said: “It does not reflect what happens in other senior competitions and therefore does not represent a development opportunity for the athletes we’re targeting.”

The BEF added that the decision had “not been taken lightly”, but the competition format did not fit within its World Class development programme on which its funding from UK Sport was based.

This story first appeared in H&H in 16 January 2014 issue.

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Five up-and-coming event riders will ride on the British senior squad for the first time in this season’s Nations Cup series, which is at three-star level.

Newcomers Gemma Tattersall, Izzy Taylor, Sarah Bullimore, Emily Llewellyn and Tom McEwen join Laura Collett, Kitty King, Francis Whittington and Lucy Wiegersma on the squad. Four riders from this group will be selected for each of the seven CICO*** competitions — with the exception of Aachen (25-30 June), which may be used to test other riders.

“The primary objective of this squad selection is to give riders who do not have a depth of senior team experience the opportunity to compete in a team environment,” said performance manager Yogi Breisner.

Tom McEwen, the youngest in the squad at 21, said his selection was “a privilege”.

“I’ve had the results I’d been hoping for, but never thought I’d be picked. It’s great to see that all the hard work at home has paid off,” said Tom.

Team manager Philip Surl and Yogi Breisner have picked Kitty King (Zidante), Emily Llewellyn (Pardon Me II), Gemma Tattersall (Arctic Soul) and Izzy Taylor (KBIS Starchaser) for the first event, Fontainebleau (21-24 March). Laura Collett (Allora 3) is reserve.

Read more about Izzy Taylor, Gemma Tattersall and Kitty King in H&H’s eventing special issue (published 7 March, 2013).

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Ruth Edge tops the leader board at the end of the first day of dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Ruth rode Susan Kerfoot’s home-bred 10-year-old Rogersdale with her customary professionalism and polish to pick up every possible mark, just losing points in the flying changes. She scored 45.5.

“I’m really pleased,” she said. “It was a shame he got a bit tired towards the end and couldn’t keep it together for the flying changes, but with strength and maturity that will change. He has a lovely rhythm and cadence, which makes my job easier.

“He’s a really kind horse, very genuine and generous. He’s easy to prepare and I trust him not to get lit up in the atmosphere. He doesn’t take long to warm-up, which makes my trainer Judy Harvey’s job easy too.”

The Welton Ambassador gelding was seventh in the CCI*** at Tattersalls in June and makes his four-star debut here.

Jock Paget is just 0.7 of a penalty behind on Lucy Allison and Frances Stead’s Clifton Lush, fifth here last year.

The horse was prepared for London as a reserve to Jock’s team bronze medallist Clifton Promise and has been kept ticking over by his stable jockey Hollie Swain and dressage rider Andrew Gould while Jock was away in New Zealand for the Olympic celebrations.

“I’m really happy with him today – he did what I thought was his best test yet,” said Jock.

Six-times Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt lies third on 46.5 with Catherine Witt’s Seacookie, who was second here in 2010 but was off for most of last year with an injury.

“We got him ready for Badminton in the spring, then when it was cancelled we decided not to take him to Luhm ¼hlen in view of having an autumn campaign,” said William.

“He’s managed to have some runs [despite the bad weather] and is in a good frame of mind. He was very controlled in the dressage and wasn’t spooky. That was probably the most settled he’s been.”

William said that the early part of Mark Phillips’ cross-country course from Discovery Valley (fences 6 and 7) to the Land Rover Dairy Farm (fence 19) is particularly testing.

“Once you’ve jumped the Dairy Farm there is a little less to think about apart from how your horse is feeling and how he’s going to come home [in terms of whether he is tiring],” said William.

“I think the cross-country will be demanding. The ground is superb at present, but it could get a bit soft.”

Today at Burghley was punctuated by sporadic rain showers, including a heavy one during the lunchbreak.

First-timer Emily Parker – who is keeping a daily diary from Burghley on the H&H website – excelled herself today to take fourth place on her former young rider European champion Treefers.

Another pair who have won individual young rider gold, Emily Llewellyn and Pardon Me II, are sixth, while Oliver Townend is fifth on ODT Sonas Rovatio.

The dressage kicks off again at 9.30am tomorrow with stars scattered throughout the day.

Follow every phase of Burghley as it happens using H&H Live, our interactive written commentary supported by Baileys Horse Feeds. Review today and join in tomorrow at www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley2012live.

Make sure you buy H&H next week (6 September) for our 10-page special Burghley report, with full analysis of every phase, comments from dressage expert Sally O’Connor and former winner Ginny Elliot and more.

H&H website editor’s blog about the day

LAND ROVER BURGHLEY RESULTS AFTER FIRST DAY OF DRESSAGE

1. Ruth Edge on Rogersdale (GBR) 45.5

2. Jock Paget on Clifton Lush (NZL) 46.2

3. William Fox-Pitt on Seacookie (GBR) 46.5

4. Emily Parker on Treefers (GBR) 48.2

5. Oliver Townend on ODT Sonas Rovatio (GBR) 48.3

6. Emily Llewellyn on Pardon Me II (GBR) 49

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Eventer Emily Llewellyn has caused a stir by winning two British Dressage (BD) classes she was not eligible to enter.

As a BD group five rider (with points earned at advanced medium) and having ridden at Badminton, Emily is not eligible for the qualifying section for the summer regional finals at prelim nor the restricted section at elementary.

But at Crofton Manor’s affiliated dressage show (20-21 December) she entered and won both classes.

“It’s not very clear when you’re entering [BD] as they abbreviate everything, so I just entered what I thought was right,” Emily told H&H.

“In eventing you can’t enter the wrong section, as the online system doesn’t let you.”

According to Paul Graham, BD’s sport operations manager, it was simply “a case of someone not reading the rulebook before competing“.

“It’s the rider’s responsibility to make sure they are eligible for the class,” he said.

“Once the results come in [to BD] and are validated, she will be eliminated. The next eligible person will get the qualification.”

Crofton Manor competitions manager Shelley Heath said: “We can only go with what riders put on their entry forms. It’s up to competitors to let us know if they are entered in the wrong section.”

Emily was also competing in a beagler hat, rather than a safety helmet, which became mandatory on 1 December 2011.

Paul Graham added: “We said when the new rule came in we would show leniency and this was the case with Emily.

“Judges have been notified that from 1 January that leniency should cease.”

This news story was first publishedin the current issue of H&H (19 January 2012)

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The welcome news that Nicola Malcolm is back at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials after her fall yesterday allows us look back on yesterday and reflect on other people’s performances and aspects of the cross-country without a shadow hanging over us.

I can’t remember a time when we’ve had 11 pairs clear and inside the time — and one, Andrew Nicholson and Avebury, remarkably in the time with a run-out — at Burghley. I don’t think there has been such a high number once in my six other years working here.

The course did prove slightly softer than sometimes and with perfect conditions, more horses than normal were able to stop the clock inside the 10min 55sec optimum.

That’s no bad thing — that Burghley remains a true jumping contest is not in doubt, with three of the top 10 after dressage dropping well down the order, the leader failing to finish and lots of riders making gains of 20 places or more through good rounds. France’s Eddy Sans rose from 60th after dressage to 23rd with a clear inside the time on Mayland De Brunel.

Plenty of British first-timers were impressive yesterday, none more so than Lauren Shannon, who brought one horse (Quixotic) home with one stop and the other (Zero Flight) clear and close to the time. Emily Llewellyn continued her run of amazing form and Laura Collett bore the pressure of her eagerly-awaited four-star debut, riding sensibly for a jumping clear on the hard-pulling Ginger May Killinghurst.

Lower down the leader board, Nicola Wilson, Alice Pearson, Lauren Yallop, Adrian Little, Kerry Varley, Hannah Kirkhill and Kate Walls all jumped clear with varying numbers of time-penalties. It must be quite a feeling to cross that finish line — Angus Smales, yesterday’s pathfinder, described it as “as high as you can get”, and he’s done it before.

Yesterday morning in the Celebrity Talk Area, I predicted Lenamore (Caroline Powell), Seacookie (William Fox-Pitt) and Sir Percival III (Francis Whittington) as our top three at the end of the day, and fortunately that wasn’t foolish as Lenamore and Sir Percival went clear inside the time, while Seacookie was just 4sec over it. In fact, they lie first, third and seventh.

I’d love to see Lenamore win this afternoon — he’s at his 10th British four-star with Caroline, having also started here with owner Lexi MacKinnon who produced him through the grades, and so deserves that big title. He’s been fifth and eighth here, and fourth, ninth and 12th at Badminton. Let’s hope that characteristic trot-up bounce means he’s planning to pick his toes up in the final phase.

Log back onto www.horseandhound.co.uk later to find out the final result and don’t forget to buy H&H next week (9 September) for a full 10-page report from Burghley, including comment from cross-country course-designer Mark Phillips.

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Britain has won team gold at the young rider eventing European Championships for the sixth year in a row.

This year’s squad clinched victory at Pardubice in the Czech Republic in a tight final showjumping phase yesterday. They well went clear across country on Saturday to take the lead from the Germans, who held top spot after dressage.

Emily Parker went clear on Treefers to hold her overnight lead and become young rider European champion.

This is also the third year in a row Britain has fielded the individual gold medallist and in the team contest this time Emily was ably backed up by the two riders who took that title in 2008 and 2009, Emily Llewellyn and Laura Collett.

Emily, riding Society Spice, and Laura, riding Fernhill Cristal, each had one showjump down yesterday to finish fifth and eighth and provide the other two counting scores for the British team.

Britain finished just 0.1pen ahead of Germany and there was briefly some confusion about who had actually won, before the British riders were given the gold medals.

All the Brits finished in the top 15 individually, with fourth team member Tom McEwen (Major Sweep) 14th and individuals Willa Newton (Neexlix) and Rosie Fry (Bankon Louie) sixth and 15th.

Chairman of selectors Alex Colquhoun said: “You couldn’t ask for a better result for a nicer group of riders. They have all been fantastic throughout the championships and have shown real maturity. I would also like to thank all the parents and sponsors who have been so supportive.”

Full results

Full report from the young rider European Championships in H&H, 12 August issue.

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Britain lies in the silver medal position after the dressage at the eventing young rider European Championships at Parubice in the Czech Republic.

The British quartet’s combined scores put them just 0.18pen behind Sweden and 2.4pen ahead of Germany, so tomorrow’s cross-country promises to be exciting with every time-fault being influential.

Emily Parker (pictured) — a team gold medallist last year — is best of the Brits in second individually with Treefers, while fellow team member Emily Llewellyn is seventh with Society Spice.

Laura Collett (12th with Fernhill Cristal) and Tom McEwen (15th with Major Sweep) are the other two team members.

Britain’s individuals are Willa Newton, ninth with Neexlix, and Rosie Fry, 14th with Bankon Louie.

France’s Nicolas Astier holds the lead on Jhakti Du Janlie, with whom he won the individual silver last year at the young rider Europeans.

Full report from the young rider European Championships in H&H, 12 August.

Event website and full results

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Emily Llewellyn has a remarkable four horses listed for this year’s British young rider eventing squad for the championships at Pardubice, Czech Republic (28 July-1 August).

Emily (pictured) has been chosen for the squad with last weekend’s Barbury runner-up Society Spice and has her 2008 individual young rider gold medallist Pardon Me II, Houghton CCI** runner-up Balloo IV and Junior II — 13th in Bramham’s under-25 CCI*** — as direct reserve horses.

Also on the squad are reigning young rider European champion Laura Collett with Fernhill Cristal, a new ride for her this year, and Emily Parker and Treefers, young rider team gold medallists in 2009.

Rosie Fry makes her British squad debut with Bankon Louie, Willa Newton is back on the squad after an individual appearance last year with Neelix and former pony team gold medallist Tom McEwen completes the six with Major Sweep.

Reserves are Harriet Baird (Persian Coin), Laura Cocking (Arkendale) and Olivia Craddock (Boherdeal Cruise).

Britain has an excellent record in the young rider Europeans, with team gold at the past five championships and the three individuals golds in the past four years.

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Badminton Horse Trials course-designer Hugh Thomas comes in for some flak, with plenty of people over the past few years saying the track is too soft or too many riders get inside the time.

But credit where credit is due because I’d say today — the cross-country day for the 2010 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials — was spot on, in terms of statistics.

There were 81 starters, 42 of whom jumped clear, four inside the time and 57 finishers. I don’t think the numbers get much better than that at four-star.

Of course, even a stats geek like me has to admit it’s not all in the numbers. If all the problems had come at one fence, that wouldn’t be hailed a great result. But the faults were well spread around the course.

There were a few horse falls, but that is — unfortunately — always going to be the reality of the sport, especially at the top level. The death of Louisa Lockwood’s mare, Desert Island, was obviously a sad low — and condolences to all her connections — but I don’t know the circumstances of the accident so I can’t comment on that.

Badminton final scores

Lots of good combinations were caught out, and plenty of the less experienced were able to get round with sensible riding and long routes.

Plenty of people with more experience and right to comment than me will give their judgement of the course and the result over the next week or so, but my initial reaction is hats off to Hugh.

First and second-timers

It’s always fun to see which first-timers do well. Simone Deitermann, 28, went brilliantly for Germany for third overnight and Camilla Speirs, 20, for Ireland was outstanding on her 15.1hh Portersize Just A Jiff to hold 13th place.

For the Brits, four first-timers resulted in two completions. Sian Wynne Morris, 33, was the star turn, putting in the first clear inside the time on Just Appeal. She said on Radio Badminton that the horse has had a sore mouth so she was trying to use her body rather than her hands, and this resulted in a more forward ride. Whatever, it worked.

Nicola Malcolm, 22, also finished, with just a stop at the first hedge at the Colt Pond on McFly and should be pleased to have completed at her first Badminton and Burghley on a horse who wouldn’t be everyone’s classic eventer.

Two British second-timers caught my eye. Emily Llewellyn — the youngest Brit here at 20 — went well on both her horses. Admittedly she had some luck in terms of judging decisions with both her horses — she had to turn a circle with Pardon Me II after overshooting her turn to the final fence and pulled out of the second corner at fence 15, with Society Spice. But I have to say I agree that she didn’t present to the fence in either case.

But Emily continues to stand out with her polish and style — youngsters at Badminton can either freeze and not attack, or override, go wild and terrify their horses with the change from their normal style. Emily has never shown any sign of doing either.

The other British second-timer who I noticed was Emily Galbraith. She hasn’t had the best preparation — this is only the horse’s fifth run since being here in 2008, plus she was one of the last to get in off the waiting list, so didn’t know for sure that she was coming a week ago.

But she jumped round penalty-free, with a respectable 19.2 time-penalties, and looked over the moon with her first Badminton jumping clear (she had one stop in 2008).

And her ride, Crown Alliance, is still the horse I’d most like to take home.

Keep up with the final day tomorrow on www.horseandhound.co.uk, with a report after the trot-up and when the event finishes.

Don’t miss H&H’s 15-page special report in the issue dated 6 May, including day-by-day analysis, comments from Carl Hester and Mark Phillips and much more.

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Supplements company Equine America is hosting a lecture demonstration evening with dressage rider Andrew Gould and event rider Emily Llewellyn to raise money for the Spinal Research Saddle Up Campaign.

The evening event will be held at Oldencraig Equestrian Centre on the 26 March and will include dressage and jumping demonstrations from both riders on a variety of horses.

There will also be a demonstration by Point Two Air Jackets and the chance to meet both riders.

All proceeds from the evening, including a raffle of horse products donated by a number of companies, and from the ticket sales, will go to support the Saddle Up Campaign, for which Andrew is an ambassador.

Andrew will also be running the London Marathon for the charity on 25 April.

Advance tickets are available until 19 March at £10 per person, and will be available on the night for £15.

For more information or to purchase tickets call Equine America on 01403 255809 or email kate@cortaflex.co.uk

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Laura Collett led a British effort that resulted in four medals at the junior and young rider eventing European Championships in Waragem, Belgium (11-14 September).

Laura, 20, added the young rider individual gold medal to the junior titles she won in 2006 and 2007. Riding Rayef (pictured at Belton earlier this year), she headed the leader board from the start and added nothing to her leading dressage score of 35.8.

Last year’s young rider European champion Emily Llewellyn claimed the individual bronze this time on Pardon Me II — their third individual medal in as many years. She also finished on her dressage score, moving up from sixth after dressage.

Laura and Emily joined up with British squad debutant Emily Parker (Treefers) and Harry Dzenis (Rockin Robin) — making his first young rider appearance after junior team gold in 2007 — to claim the team gold medal.

Britain’s junior riders were very unlucky not to win a team medal, the first time the Brits have not claimed a team honour at this level since 2005.

The team held silver medal position after dressage and cross-country, but Camilla Dumas’s ride Action Packed had picked up an injury on the cross-country and could not take part in the final show jumping phase.

Camilla was lying 11th individually at this point and providing a vital team score. Without her, the British team dropped to fourth in the final reckoning — particularly frustrating as had Camilla been able to jump and gone clear, they would have taken team gold.

Dani Evans, a reserve who came into the squad following the withdrawal of Sienna Myson-Davies and Tambourine, upheld British honour by taking the individual silver medal on Uchin. She held second throughout the competition by adding nothing to her dressage score of 38.3.

Full report from the Europeans in Horse & Hound next week (24 September issue).

RESULTS — *denotes team member

YOUNG RIDER EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

1st Laura Collet on Rayef (GB)* 47.5

2nd Nicolas Astier on Jhakti Du Janlie (FRA)* 48.3

3rd Emily Llewellyn on Pardon Me II (GB)* 48.3

15th Georgie Spence on Skylight (GB) 61.8

16th Emily Parker on Treefers (GB)* 62.9

21st Harry Parker on Rockin Robin (GB)* 66.8

40th Willa Newton on Neelix (GB) 94.3

1st Great Britain 160.2

2nd Germany 172.1

3rd Sweden 177.6

JUNIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

1st Marie Kraack on Sinesto 2 (GER)* 35.8

2nd Dani Evans on Uchin (GB)* 38.3

3rd Celina Nothofer on Larissa 711 (GER) 43.1

8th Eliza Sangster on High Havoc (GB) 46.9

10th Amelia King on Captain Crunchie (GB) 48.8

12th Evie Paterson on Direct Opposition (GB)* 51.9

36th Giles Blanchard on Arnies Game (GB)* 72.1

Withdrawn before show jumping — Camilla Dumas on Action Packed (GB)*

1st Germany 139.9

2nd Sweden 157.9

3rd Italy 160.3

4th Great Britain 162.3

Full results

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Georgie Spence (pictured) has been brought into the British eventing young rider squad from the reserve list, following a minor injury which has forced Ben Hobday to withdraw Uptons Who.

Uptons Who, a team gold and individual bronze medallist last year, has sustained a small injury since the recent final trial at Aston-le-Walls. Although the injury is not serious, the horse will not now be fit in time for the Europeans in Waragem, Belgium (11-14 September).

Georgie, 20, will ride Christopher Jenkin’s mare Skylight, with whom she finished 14th individually and won a team gold medal at last year’s young rider Europeans in Kreuth, Germany.

Georgie wrote on her website: “Although I am obviously very excited to be travelling I am equally disappointed for Ben, he is a very good friend and is someone who I would have liked to have gone to the Europeans with.”

The rest of the squad consists of:

• Emily Llewellyn, 20, on Pardon Me II, owned by her mother Cindy
• Laura Collett, 19, on Rayef, owned by Jason Houghton
• Emily Parker, 19, on her own Treefers
• Harry Dzenis, 18, on his own Rockin Robin
• Willa Newton, 19, on Neelix, owned by her father Joey

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The scoreboard changed once more at the top of the Bishop Burton College Under-25 CCI*** at Bramham International Horse Trials when the overnight leader, Portuguese rider Duarte Seabra, had a fence down on Brave Heart.

This allowed the 2008 European young rider champion, Emily Llewellyn, to rise from third to first with a cool clear round on Pardon Me II.

Eleventh after dressage on 52.8, a fast clear across country added just 1.2pen, and this faultless show jumping round — one of just five in the section — left Emily the winner.

“He tried his heart out for me. I think the atmosphere lifted him and made him careful,” said Emily.

She will aim Pardon Me II at the young rider team.

Georgie Spence, second going into the show jumping phase on the 10-year-old mare Skylight, knocked three down to drop to fifth.

Duarte, 21, followed his Blair Castle CCI*** win last year with second place — and, he hopes, a place at the European championships later this summer.

Sarah Stretton finished on her dressage score of 58.6 to climb from 16th after dressage to eventual third on Lazy Acres Skip On.

Ben Hobday also show jumped clear on Uptons Who to finish fourth, while Gemma Tattersall and Ollie Artois were sixth.

CIC***

Neil Spratt pulled off the biggest win of his career in the CIC*** on Upleadon. Second after cross-country behind Andrew Nicholson and Epic on 47.4, Neil show jumped clear and capitalised on Epic’s eight faults.

“I’m thrilled with how he coped with the atmosphere all week,” said Neil.

The pair will now aim for CIC***s at Barbury and Hartpury, and the CCI*** at Blenheim.

Epic stayed second, while Sharon Hunt could afford one rail down for third place on Tankers Town.

Harry Meade jumped clear on Dunauger but seven time-faults dropped them a place to fourth. Declan Cullen (Glenhill Gold) and Alice Pearson (Beau Bear) were fifth and sixth.

CCI*** under-25

1. Emily Llewellyn on Pardon Me II (54)

2. Duarte Seabra on Brave Heart (57)

3. Sarah Stretton on Lazy Acres Skip On (58.6)

4. Ben Hobday on Uptons Who (59.8)

5. Georgie Spence on Skylight (65.6)

6. Gemma Tattersall on Ollie Artois (67.4)

CIC***

1. Neil Spratt on Upleadon (47.4)

2. Andrew Nicholson on Epic (52.8)

3. Sharon Hunt on Tankers Town (54)

4. Harry Meade on Dunauger (54.8)

5. Declan Cullen on Glenhill Gold (58.2)

6. Alice Pearson on Beau Bear (60.8)

Don’t miss Thursday’s Horse & Hound for full reports from Bramham and Luhmuhlen Horse Trials

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It’s all change at the top of the Bishop Burton College Under-25 CCI*** leaderboard at Bramham International Horse Trials as Portuguese rider Duarte Seabra jumped from 10th to first after the cross-country.

Duarte, 23, based in Ireland with Carol Gee, picked up just 0.8 time-faults on Brave Heart to take the lead on a score of 53. The pair won the CCI*** at Blair Castle in Scotland last year.

Duarte said: “After Blair I started to believe in him, and I hope to go to the European Championships in Fontainebleau this autumn on him. He went straight and fast everywhere today.”

Britain’s Georgie Spence is 0.6pen behind him on Skylight. Georgie collected 4.8 time-faults on the 10-year-old Jumbo mare, saying afterwards: “I wimped out of the long route at the corners!”

And only 0.4pen behind Georgie is 19-year-old Emily Llewellyn, who did jump the straight route at the formidable double of corners at fence 16ab.

“I had to grow a serious pair of balls to do so — but I thought it was worth the risk,” she said. Emily and Pardon Me II were only 11th after dressage on 52.8, but added just 1.2pen across country.

The only combination inside the time was Sarah Stretton and Lazy Acres Skip On, who stayed on their dressage score of 58.6 but climbed from 16th to fourth.

None of the top three after dressage could hold their positions. American rider Jennifer Brannigan had a run-out on first-placed Cooper, France’s Maxime Livio slipped up between elements of fence 18 and was eliminated for a fall on Jaipur II, and Gemma Tattersall, third after dressage on Nyali Beach, fell off at the barrel bounce at fence 14.

Riders agreed that the course was tougher than it had first appeared.

“Quite a few people underestimated it,” said Emily Llewellyn. “It has some big questions.”

Bishop Burton College Under-25 CCI***

1. Duarte Seabra (POR) on Brave Heart (53)

2. Georgie Spence on Skylight (53.6)

3. Emily Llewellyn on Pardon Me II (54)

4. Sarah Stretton on Lazy Acres Skip On (58.6

5. Daniel Sibley on Tarmac Adam (59.8)

6. Ben Hobday on Uptons Who (59.8)

7. Rose Bridgewood on Tip Top Tiger (60.8)

8. Ed Eltham on Bonza Billabong (64.6)

9. Gemma Tattersall on Ollie Artois (67.4)

10. Sidney Dufresne (FRA) on Gros Bonnet (68)f

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People often say, “It’s all relative” but I’ve decided this weekend at Badminton Horse Trials that that applies to eventing as much as anything else.

Riders come to Badminton with vastly differing hopes and expectations. That was very evident writing my feature on first-timers at Badminton for H&H a few weeks ago. I spoke to five debutants, whose aims ranged from “having fun and doing my best”, to “a personal best in each phase” or “a top 10 placing”.

Sadly, I think my feature was a jinx, as only one of these five looks like completing. That one is Ireland’s Elizabeth Power, who currently lies ninth with Kilpatrick River. Elizabeth’s round on the cross-country was one that would have pleased any rider — clear inside the time, with no major hiccups.

But “It’s all relative” and competitors’ reactions to their performances vary wildly depending on what they hope for and their position. Karin Donckers was devastated to lose the lead by accruing 6.4 time-penalties yesterday, but H&H rider diarist Dee Kennedy was beaming from ear to ear at getting her first jumping cross-country clear here. She couldn’t care less about her 7.2 time-penalties.

There were plenty of delighted first-timers yesterday: Sara Squires, a special needs teacher who was only just over the time on Star Prospect, Aaron Millar, clear inside the time with Stormstay and Ireland’s Sam Watson, another one just over the time.

Badminton final scores

Whether your time-penalties gain or lose you positions is all relative too. At the top, there were quite a number of clears inside the time, so those who tarried for a few seconds soon moved down.

It seems a little tough that Emily Llewellyn (pictured), at 19 the youngest competitor, rode a beautiful round on Society Spice, but dropped eight places for her 10.8 time-penalties. I think she’s still pretty pleased though — she’s first to jump this afternoon and will probably take home the best British first-timer and under-25 prizes.

But lower down, there were big improvements to be made: vet Tony Warr, 47, had 16.4 time-faults with Coolgrange Merger, but went up 18 places on his dressage position, from 66th to 48th. He’s one of the rare amateur riders at the top of the modern sport, so good on him. He’s just show jumped with only one down, too.

This morning’s show jumping session is nearly over as I write and then everyone’s attention will turn to the top-placed riders this afternoon. The sun is shining — I’ll need suncream on to sit in the stands — and we’ve got an afternoon of thrilling action to look forward to.

It would be nice to think everyone who gets placed will be pleased, but I suspect that won’t be the case. For those with a chance of winning, nothing but the top spot will make for total satisfaction in the lorry going home. That’s why they’re in the position to start with, because they are true competitors.

A completion, 10th place, second or first — it’s all relative.

Log back on to www.horseandhound.co.uk later for the final installment of rider Dee Kennedy’s diary and a report at the end of the competition.

Don’t forget to buy H&H next week (14 May) — our 15-page Badminton report will include comments from Carl Hester, Mark Todd and Tina Cook, plus full cross-country course analysis and plenty of colour photographs.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

This year’s British Eventing (BE) under-18 championships will be held at Subaru Houghton Horse Trials (21-24 May) the Norfolk three-day event that runs for the third time this year.

The championships have previously been held at Chepstow Horse Trials, but the event is not running this year as the racecourse will be closed for maintenance work.

Current under-18 champion Evie Paterson is looking forward to defending her title at Houghton.

She said: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge of contesting the championships again this year. Houghton is a fantastic venue and I’m eager to ride round the CCI* course.”

The under-18 championships will run alongside the CCI* and CCI** classes, where top riders such as William Fox-Pitt and Lucy Wiegersma regularly compete.

Event organiser and course-designer Alec Lochore said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to host the under-18 championships. It is a welcome boost, and I’d like to thank Subaru for their continued support. I’m looking forward to meeting all the riders and owners.”

British Eventing (BE) said it is thankful to Alec and his team for hosting the event at such a late stage.

“I’m sure they will do an amazing job and produce a fantastic championship competition,” said BE sport manager Paul Graham.

The championships will return to Chepstow in 2010, with a new early summer date.

The under-18 championship has always been a prestigious title. 2007 champion Emily Llewellyn went on to take double gold at the 2008 young rider European Championships in Germany.

www.houghtoninternational.co.uk

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Britain claimed both gold medals today after the final show jumping phase of the young rider European Championships at Kreuth, Germany.

Emily Llewellyn (pictured) jumped clear on Pardon Me II to move up from second to take the individual gold and lead the Jump Savings-sponsored squad to team gold.

Ben Hobday also picked up an individual medal, rising from fifth overnight to collect the bronze with Uptons Who.

Dani Cuomo (Ballin Willow) added nothing to her dressage score to provide the final team mark to count, after Georgie Spence (Skylight) slipped down the order today with 12 jumping faults.

Britain’s two individual riders, Emily Galbraith and Sarah Stretton, also completed inside the top 20.

Don’t miss H&H on 9th October for a full report from the young rider European Championships and colour pictures.

FINAL RESULTS

1. Pardon Me II (Emily Llewellyn, GB team) 43.8

2. Lost Prophecy (Julia Krajewski, GER) 47.5

3. Uptons Who (Ben Hobday, GB team) 49.8

1. Britain 144.6

2. Germany 157.2

3. Italy 231.5

BRITISH PLACINGS

5. Ballin Willow (Dani Cuomo, GB team) 51

11. Timing (Emily Galbraith, GB individual) 57.4

14. Skylight (Georgie Spence, GB team) 58.1

20. Lazy Acres Skip On (Sarah Stretton, GB individual) 70.9

Results from Kreuth

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The British team are still in the gold medal position after the cross-country phase at the young rider European Championships in Kreuth, Germany.

All four members of Britain’s Jump Savings-sponsored team went clear inside the optimum time. Emily Llewellyn (pictured, Pardon Me II) and Georgie Spence (Skylight) are still in individual silver and bronze positions behind Germany’s Julia Krajewski (Lost Prophecy). Ben Hobday (Uptons Who) and Dani Cuomo (Ballin Willow) have both gained three places and now lie fifth and eighth.

The German team also added nothing to their dressage scores and are less than two show jumps behind the Brits, while the French now hold the bronze position.

Britain’s two individual riders, Emily Galbraith (Timing) and Sarah Stretton (Lazy Acres Skip On) also jumped clear, with Emily one second over the optimum time and Sarah four.

Don’t miss H&H on 9th October for a full report from the young rider European Championships and colour pictures.

RESULTS AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY

1. Lost Prophecy (Julia Krajewski, GER) 43.5

2. Pardon Me II (Emily Llewellyn, GB team) 43.8

3. Skylight (Georgie Spence, GB team) 46.1

1. Britain 139.7

2. Germany 145.2

3. France 160.2

BRITISH PLACINGS

5. Uptons Who (Ben Hobday, GB team) 49.8

8. Ballin Willow (Dani Cuomo, GB team) 51

11. Timing (Emily Galbraith, GB individual) 51.4

22. Lazy Acres Skip On (Sarah Stretton, GB individual) 57.9

Times and results from Kreuth

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Britain holds the team gold and individual silver and bronze medal positions at the end of the dressage at the young rider eventing European Championships at Kreuth, Germany.

Emily Llewellyn (pictured) pulled off Britain’s best test this morning, scoring 43.8. She holds second place with Pardon Me II, the horse with whom she won junior team gold and individual bronze last year.

Britain’s other rider this morning was Dani Cuomo, who scored 51 to lie 11th equal with Ballin Willow, her ride in last year’s gold medal winning young rider team.

Last night’s leader Georgie Spence is now in bronze position with Skylight.

The individual gold medal position is filled by Germany’s Julia Krajewski on Lost Prophecy. This pair have already won the Schenefeld CIC** this year, as well as the CCI** at Hohenberg-Krusemark, and Julia is a former junior individual silver and team gold medallist.

In the team stakes Germany has now overtaken Switzerland, and lies just 5.5 penalties behind Britain’s Jump Savings-sponsored team going into tomorrow’s cross-country.

Don’t miss H&H on 9th October for a full report from the young rider European Championships and colour pictures.

RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE

1. Lost Prophecy (Julia Krajewski, GER) 43.5

2. Pardon Me II (Emily Llewellyn, GB team) 43.8

3. Skylight (Georgie Spence, GB team) 46.1

1. Britain 139.7

2. Germany 145.2

3. Switzerland 151.8

BRITISH RESULTS

8=. Uptons Who (Ben Hobday, GB team) 49.8

11=. Timing (Emily Galbraith, GB individual) 51

11=. Ballin Willow (Dani Cuomo, GB team) 51

29=. Lazy Acres Skip On (Sarah Stretton, GB individual) 56.3

Times and results from Kreuth.

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Three members of last year’s gold medal-winning team return to the British squad for the 2008 young rider European Championships at Kreuth, Germany (25-28 September).

Georgie Spence, Emily Galbraith and Dani Cuomo are the returning squad members, although only Dani rides the same horse as last year, her own 10-year-old Ballin Willow (pictured).

These three are joined on the squad by Ben Hobday, an individual at last year’s championships, Emily Llewellyn, who moves up from the junior ranks where she won three medals, and Sarah Stretton, who wears the British colours for the first time.

The full Jump-sponsored squad is:

• Dani Cuomo, 19, and her own Ballin Willow
• Emily Galbraith, 20, and her own Timing
• Ben Hobday, 20, and his own Uptons Who
• Emily Llewellyn, 19, and her mother Cindy’s Pardon Me II
• Georgie Spence, 19, and and Christopher Jenkins’ Skylight
• Sarah Stretton, 21, and Billie Childs’ Lazy Acres Skip On

Reserves:

• Sophie Griffith-Jones, 20, and her own Seaboy
• Alice Pearson, 20, and Tricia Wilkins’ Beau Bear

One surprise omission from the squad is double junior European champion Laura Collett with Fernhill Sox, who were second at the final trial, but this is down to a problem with qualifications — for a championship qualifications have to be achieved in the current or preceeding year and Fernhill Sox has not done a CCI** since 2006.

Laura has now re-routed to Blenheim, for which she and Fernhill Sox are qualified.

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AVENCHES Switzerland, 1-5 August

Junior European Champs— 1, Rayef (L Collett, GBR) 35.5,0,0=35.5; 2, Dictus J (F Roth, GER) 35.7,0,0=35.7; 3, Pardon Me II (E Llewellyn, GB) 38.6,0,0=38.6; 7, Fancy That II (M Lawson-Smith, GBR) 45,0,0=45; 20, Secret Avalanche (F Payne, GBR) 55,0,4=59; 41, Get Up And Go II (R Stewart, GBR) 55.71,22.8,0=78.5; 43, Spider VI (H Dzenis GBR) 55.48,20,8=83.5. teams— 1, Great Britain (L Collett, E Llewellyn, M Lawson-Smith, H Dzenis) 119.1; 2, Sweden (M Hannes, C Forsberg, M Bredberg, L Svennerstal) 137.2; 3, France (N Astier, J Bastide, A Bonneau, M Grivot) 144.7. CCI*— 1, Gamour CH (T Realini, SUI) 46.9,0,0=46.9; 2, Showtime VI (C Vogg, SUI) 48.6,0,0=48.6; 3, Well Measured (F Riso, ITA) 48.57,2.4,0=51.

The British team clinched both gold medals in the final show jumping phase of the junior European Eventing Championships at Avenches, Switzerland.

Laura Collett retained her individiual title, this time riding Rayef (pictured), while Emily Llewellyn took the individual bronze with Pardon Me II.

Their team-mates were Marina Lawson-Smith (Fancy That II) and Harry Dzenis (Spider VI).

Full report from the junior European Eventing Championships in next week’s Horse & Hound (9 August).

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Britain’s junior eventers are still on track to take double gold medals after the cross-country at their junior European Championships in Avenches, Switzerland.

The three British team riders whose scores counted after dressage all went clear inside the time.

Laura Collett retains her leading position individually with Rayef (pictured), while her team-mates Emily Llewellyn (Pardon Me II) and Marina Lawson-Smith (Fancy That II) also stay on their dressage scores.

Fourth team member Harry Dzenis (Spider VI) picked up 20pen at a corner, while individual Rosie Stewart (Get Up And Go II) had problems at the penultimate fence.

Britain’s other individual Fergus Payne (Secret Avalanche) went clear inside the time.

Full report from the junior European Eventing Championships in next week’s Horse & Hound (9 August).

Click on any of the British horses’ names to see their full British Eventing record.

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Britain hold individual and team gold medal positions after the dressage at the junior European Eventing Championships at Avenches, Switzerland.

Reigning junior European Champion Laura Collett leads individually after scoring 35.48 with Rayef (pictured at Houghton earlier this year). But Germany’s Franziska Roth (Dictus J) and Sweden’s Christoffer Forsberg (Grafman) are very close behind, having scored 35.71 and 35.95 respectively.

British under-18 national champion Emily Llewellyn is fifth on 38.57 riding Pardon Me II, while the third team mark to count at this stage comes from last year’s junior regional novice champion Marina Lawson-Smith (Fancy That II), who scored a personal best of 45.

The other team member is Harry Dzenis (Spider VI), who also put in a good performance for 55.48.

The British team are on a score of 119.05, and hold the gold medal position going into tomorrow’s cross-country ahead of Sweden and Germany.

The British individuals are Fergus Payne, who scored 55 with Secret Avalanche, and Rosie Stewart, who is on 55.71 with Get Up And Go II.

British chairman of selectors Robin Balfour reports that the cross-country course is typical of Pierre Michelet — the renowned French designer — and quite technical.

Full report from the junior European Eventing Championships in next week’s Horse & Hound (9 August).

Visit the Avenches website www.complet-avenches.ch

Click on any of the British horses’ names to see their full British Eventing record

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The selectors have picked the final four members of the British squad for the junior European Eventing Championships in Avenches, Switzerland (2-5 August).

The four riders are:

• Harry Dzenis, 16 and Spider VI
• Marina Lawson-Smith, 16, and Fancy That II (pictured)
• Fergus Payne, 17, and Secret Avalanche
• Rosie Stewart, 17, and Get Up And Go II

These four join Laura Collett and Emily Llewellyn, who were selected back in June.

Laura, 17, will ride Rayef, with whom she won the final trial at Barbury Castle last weekend by nearly 20 marks, with Opposition Legacy as a direct reserve. Emily, 18, rides either her Chepstow under-18 champion Society Spice or Pardon Me II.

Two of the newly-named squad members won three-day events at the end of last year. Marina Lawson-Smith and Fancy That II were junior regional novice champions at Weston Park and have followed that by finishing on their dressage scores at Houghton and Ede CCI*s this year.

Fergus Payne and Secret Avalanche triumphed at Aldon CCI* last autumn and were fourth in the under-18 championships at Chepstow in May.

Harry Dzenis has had three top 10 placings in under-21 open intermediates this year on Spider VI and they finished third in the final trial. Rosie Stewart and Get Up And Go II were 13th on their dressage score at Ede CCI*.

The reserves are Lissa Green (Pick And Mix II), Eilidh Jane Middleton (Demoiselle) and Hannah Luck (Captain Courageous).

Visit Laura Collett’s website www.lauracollett.com

Visit Emily Llewellyn’s website www.emilyllewellyn.co.uk

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Laura Collett (pictured) and Emily Llewellyn will both ride on the British squad at the junior European Eventing Championships in Avenches, Switzerland (2-5 August).

Reigning junior European Champion Laura will defend her title on either Osberton CIC** winner Opposition Legacy or Rayef, who was recently eighth in the CCI** at Houghton.

Emily has been selected with either Society Spice — her partner in the silver medal-winning junior team last year and when winning the recent under-18 national championship at Chepstow — or Pardon Me II, 22nd in the CCI** at Houghton.

Seven other riders have been shortlisted for the squad, with the final four being chosen after Barbury Castle (7-8 July). They are Louise Bradley (Meadows Whisper), Eleanor Barns-Graham (Shadow Light), Harry Dzenis (Spider VI), Camilla Earnshaw (Bishops Law), Caroline Harris (The Lapdancer II), Marina Lawson-Smith (Fancy That II) and Fergus Payne (Secret Avalanche and French Gypsy).

All of these riders apart from Louise and Harry will be in action at the CCI* at Avenches, Switzerland next week.

Visit Laura Collett’s website www.lauracollett.com

Visit Emily Llewellyn’s website www.emilyllewellyn.co.uk

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Charlotte Jones, 18, and her 15hh mare, Silk Spider, scored their first major win by taking the Scott Rees-sponsored senior CCI* at the Chepstow International Horse Trials.

Natalie Western-Kaye, riding her own Just George V, had a lead of 0.4 of a penalty over Charlotte going into the final day. But four rails down in the show jumping relegated the pair to fifth place.

A clear round from Charlotte Prentice on Cool Decision promoted her from fourth to the runner-up spot, while Swedish rider Niklas Lindback finished third on Exmoor Eventing’s One Way.

In the CCI* under-18 national championship, Emily Llewellyn and Society Spice led from start and were the only combination to complete on their dressage score. Runner-up in the championship was Louise Bradley and Meadows Whisper.

Marie Ryan won the open intermediate with Sparrow Hall. Sam Griffiths, riding John Johnston’s stallion Opposition Heracles, finished nine points behind in second place, with Nick Gauntlett and his faithful campaigner Calibre third.

Sally Taylor’s dressage mark of 21 with Summer Sun secured a win in intermediate section P, while Helen Wilkes secured her first intermediate win with her mare Fair Lady in section Q.

Read this report in full in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (24 May, ’07)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now