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A trio of British girls took bronze at the FEI European Reining Championships in Manerbio, Italy at the weekend (8-15 September).
Britain fielded the youngest team in the junior competition, comprising Tabitha Sternberg Allen (15), Isobel Le Pla (15) and Fiona Howard (14).
The girls train with Tabitha’s father Doug Allen at Sterling Quarter Horses, Bodiam, East Sussex, and he was their chef d’equipe for the event.
“I am really delighted with the girls, they rode very well, used their heads and didn’t crack under the pressure. It bodes incredibly well for the future,” Doug said.
Tabitha was the highest scoring rider of the team in both rounds on the 2nd oldest horse at the competition Yelena My Way [Milo].
“I am so excited for the team and incredibly grateful and proud of my horse Milo,” Tabitha said.
“He might be an oldie, but he’s a goldie!”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
The European Championships is the highest medal opportunity for junior and young riders as there is no World Equestrian Games or Olympics for their age group.
All 3 riders advanced to the individual finals where Tabitha placed 12th, Isobel 13th and Fiona 15th.
The girls’ next event will be the British Reining Championships in 2 weeks time at Bodiam, East Sussex. After that they are all hoping to be selected for next year’s American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup Team competition in Texas, USA.
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.