World Showjumping Championships results: a great first day for Britain

Britain’s showjumpers got off to a superb start in Herning, with two riders in the top 10 of the Agria World Showjumping Championships results and the team in fourth place overnight.

Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson, the last British pair to go, put in a superb clear in the opening speed round to take overall second place, 0.23 penalties behind overnight French leaders Julien Epaillard on Caracole De La Roque.

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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

‘We’re happy this evening’: Britain in superb position at World Showjumping Championships

“To have two in the top 10,” she said. “Harry was unlucky at the last fence and Joe had just a toe on that back rail; he’ll gain confidence from today and we’re looking forward to tomorrow. We’re happy this evening.”

Ireland are in 11th place overnight; although the first three combinations jumped clear and their fourth rider Daniel Coyle, with Legacy, clipped just one rail, the calculation of penalties from points and time put them on a score of 11.15.

Individual leader Julien said he was very happy with Top Stallions Company’s 10-year-old Zandor Z x Kannan mare, whom he has been riding for about a year.

“She was very relaxed today; she listened to me super,” he said. “I had my plan; we always have a plan A and today I didn’t need to use the plan B so that was a good start for me! I hope the mare isn’t too flat for the two rounds of the Nations Cup, but the feeling was good.”

Julien added: “She’s an amazing mare. She has a lot of blood, she’s careful and scopey. But, okay, she’s a mare. She’s not always really easy to ride. But every day, more and more she takes experience. She’s only 10, and every day she’s more easy to ride.

“She’s a very good mare, with a very good head. She doesn’t look at anything, maybe a little bit more at the public and the scenes outside; the fences normally are not a problem.

“We did the job today. We will try to do it again tomorrow.”

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