While the big boys are having their year highlight at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the smallest international dressage competitors are celebrating their epitome of the year at the 2016 European Pony Championships in Vilhelmsborg, Denmark, this week. After the first day of competition Germany is in the lead for the team competition.
The 2016 European Pony Championships are held at the headquarters of the Danish warmblood society and Danish equestrian federation and kicked off on Tuesday 16 August 2016 with the trot up. All but one pony passed the inspection. For Dutch Kim Noordijk it was a sad premature exit from the Europeans as her pony Brasil did not pass the jog. The Netherlands will be contesting the Championships with a team of three as the reserve was not able to fill the spot.
The nations' competition began on Wednesday 17 August with the first group of riders contesting the team championship test. Germany has taken an early lead with its two riders covering a provisional first and second place. The high scorer of the day was the youngest rider on the German team, Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel on the 11-year old buckskin Massimiliano (by Monsun N x Cap Cennedy). The pair topped the board, placing first with four out of five judges.
The panel judging the team test includes Sharon Rhode (RSA), Sandy Phillips (GBR), Ulrike Nivelle (GER), Bo Jena (SWE) and Leif Tornblad (DEN). They scored Baumgurtel a 75.051%.
"She did such a cool job," said German team trainer Connie Endres. "It looked like she had already five European Championships. Massimiliano sailed smoothly through the test."
Lucie-Anouk's team mate Inga Katharina Schuster took over the ride on last year's silver medal winning Cyrill and captured a spot on the German team straight away. In Vilhelmsborg, the Inga and the 10-year old palomino stallion (by Champion de Luxe x Power Man) had a bit of a difficult start when Cyrill reversed after the halt at entry, but then they found their stride and ended up posting a score of 73.077% to finish second so far. These two top scores have put Germany in the lead of the nations' ranking.
"I don't know what came to him," said Endres. "He literally back fired, but when Cyrill found the right direction he produced a truly good test."
Home country Denmark put in a strong effort on the first day of competition and is currently second. The best scoring Danish dup was Kristian Wurtz Green on the 9-year old Lilo L (by Notre Beau x Manitu N). They were third with 71.462%. Danish Vcitoria Bonefeld Dahl and the very young 7-year old Hanneken (by Don't Worry x Brillant) landed fifth place with 70.231%.
The only Dutch pair starting on Wednesday, Jitske Prosman and the 13-year old Dutch bred pony Charina du Bois (by Danny Gold x Idzard), finished fourth with 70.487%.
The Swedish team is standing in third place so far. Linnea Holmgren and the 8-year old Fleuramo's Justin (by Heitrak's Marvin x Bokkesprong Czardas) landed seventh place with 68.103%, while Victoria Wahlin and the 16-year old routinier Janine WE (by Dressman x Nordstar) were 15th with 66.692%.
On the first competition day 29 rider and pony combinations from eleven countries contested the first part of the team test. On Thursday 18 August the remaining 32 riders will be competing in the second part of the test.
Photos © Ridehesten
Related Links
Scores - 2016 European Pony Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2016 European Pony Championships