British ponies win European gold

Britain claimed team gold and individual silver and bronze in show jumping and team bronze in dressage at the Pony European Championships at Necarne Castle, Ireland, last weekend.

Natasha Sewell, Sophie Broome, Nicole Pavitt and Hannah Paul took the show jumping team title for Britain for the sixth consecutive year.

Hannah, Sophie and Nicole all jumped double clear on Saturday to go into the five-pony jump-off for the individual medals. Hannah claimed silver 0.5sec behind Switzerland’s Julie Delaporte,while Sophie captured bronze.

The dressage team of Lorna Edmonds, Georgina Somerset, Amber de Savary and Natalie Allen took bronze behind Germany and Holland. Lorna was sixth individually with Manitu N behind a top five that was dominated byall four German team members.

In eventing, the team of Tara Morrison, Samantha Magennis, Daniel Megson and Emily Llewellyn finished just outside the medals in fourth.

Tara was fifth individually, while individual rider Lucinda Eaton (Millbrook Ifor) shot up from 25th after dressage to complete in seventh position.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report from the Pony Europeans in the 7 August issue.

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