British students win gold medals
17 October 2001
Strong dressage performances saw the British team claim gold in the student’s Nations Cup in Italy
The British team of Sophie Dickinson, Miranda Aiken and Polly Radbourne returned from this year’s student Nations Cup at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, with three gold medals and one silver.
Fifteen nations competed in this dressage and show jumping competition, which is run on a knock out system over five rounds. Riders compete on unknown horses, with the finals held at prix st georges level (dressage) and 1.40m fences (show jumping).
There was early success for the British team when all three riders qualified for the dressage quarter-finals, helping the team to win gold. Miranda finished ninth and the other two riders qualifyed for the following rounds on the final day.
The show jumping did not see such good fortune for the British team, which finished sixth, behind the winner, Belgium. Sophie was seventh individually.
The final day of competition decided the all-important individual and overall rankings. Sophie claimed silver in the individual dressage behind Mirja Hebenbrook from Germany, with Polly in fourth.
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The combined results proved the strength of the British team, which won overall gold, with Sophie taking the individual title and Polly finishing eighth.
See this week’s (18 October) Horse & Hound magazine to read more international reports, or click here to subscribe.
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