The Danes continue to dominate the 2019 European Pony Championships in Strzegom, Poland, as the competition continued on Friday 16 August 2019 with the first group of riders contesting the individual test.
It was a 1 - 2 - 3 for Denmark with Helgtrand, Nielsen and Thomassen provisionally ranking in the top three medal earning spots.
Thirty riders competed in the individual test today with two withdrawn before the class. Judges Graham, Hillier, Tornblad, Tissot, and Ebert officiated.
Fifteen-year old Alexander Yde Helgstrand and the 13-year old Danish team routinier Adriano B (by De Angelo B x Flying Dream) posted a whopping 78.216% to take a strong lead in the Individual Test. Three judges placed the pair first; two had him second. The individual scores ranged from 77.162% (Hillier, Tornblad) to 81.351% (Graham).
In preparation of the 2019 European Championships, Helgstrand junior not once traveled outside Denmark, but secured his team selection at three CDI's within Denmark: in Aalborg, at his home show in Uggerhalne and in Aarhus. While he was a triple silver medalist at the 2018 European Pony Championships in Bishop Burton, this year Helgstrand is giving it his all for gold in his final years on ponies. The soon-to-be 16-year old has already been competing at international junior riders' level on Grevens Sa Va.
Danish Liva Addy Guldager Nielsen and the 13-year old gelding D'Artagnan (by FS Don't Worry x Colano) are in a provisional second place with 77.351%. She ranked first with one judge, second with three judges and third with one judge. Her marks ranged from 75.270% to 78.919%. Fifteen year old Nielsen is in her penultimate pony year and has been riding D'Artagnan for two years, taking over from Kristian Wurtz Green.
Only one German combination drew to ride in the first group for the individual test and she landed a fourth place. Lana-Pinou Baumgürtel and the 14-year old Massimiliano (by Monsun P x Cap Cennedy N) scored 75.243% for fourth place. The judges were very divided on this pair's test with Tornblad having them at 72.432% (5th) and Hillier at 79.189% (1st). The buckskin Massimiliano is now on his fourth rider at international pony level. He made his debut with Hannah Cichos, then served as Liselott Marie Linsenhoff's ride before selling the Baumgurtel family. Under Lucie-Anouk he became the 2016 and 2017 European Pony Champion but at the 2018 Europeans he was unsettled in the Bishop Burton arena and performed far below par. Lana-Pinou took over the ride this year and immediately made it on the German team.
Text by Astrid Appels
Photos © Lukasz Kowalski - Image Gallery from the 2019 European Pony Championships on Facebook
Related Links
Scores: 2019 European Pony Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2019 European Pony Championships