For the 29th time the German pony riders have grabbed team gold at the European Pony Championships. The German subscription to team gold also counted at the 2014 Euro Ponies hosted at the beautiful Green Glens Equestrian Centre in Millstreet, Ireland, on Thursday 31 July. The British team made a clear move for power and took silver, edging out the Dutch team which finished on the bronze step of the podium.
Since 1978 Germany lost gold only eight times and funny enough twice in Millstreet in 1981 and 1989. This year, the pieces came together with Semmieke Rothenberger and her routinier Deinhard B spearheading the German team to victory after winning the team championship test with 78.41%. Rothenberger rode an extremely accurate and focused test and was able to fend off 2013 European Pony Champion Phoebe Peters on SL Lucci, who dropped points in the the less convincing trot tour. Peters, however, did score high marks with excellent canter work and finished second in the team test with 76.59%.
The surprize pair of the team test were German new comers, Lea Luise Nehls and the gorgeous 8-year old bay stallion De Long. The pair were the overnight leaders on Wednesday and kept a firm hold on a top spot, slotting in third with 73.769%. The Hamburg based duo is trained by Fee von Damman and won the Bundeschampionate in 2012 for 6-year olds. Germany's third score came from three-time European team rider Nadine Krause on Danilo, who still finished 5th with 73.154%. The drop score was surprisingly Maike Mende and Desert Rose. The duo recently swept the board at the CDI Vierzon, but made too many mistakes in the team test. The pair still scored a respectable 71.959%.
"It's really nice here. It's such a big show," said Semmieke Rothenberger about the wonderful competition in Millstreet. "It's a really special feeling to come in the arena and to show here. Deinhard went perfect. I was really pleased. It's an overwhelming feeling that everyone was happy. It's a pleasure to ride him."
German team trainer Connie Endres added that the people in Millstreet are "so kind and uncomplicated. We are having a really great show here. Winning the 29th gold medal is not at all boring. Today it was very exciting and had to fight for gold with the British. I'm proud of my girls. They train really hard and try to improve their riding skills."
Great Britain grabbed team silver, a feat they hadn't done since the European Pony Championships in Hagen in 2000 with now Grand Prix riders Maria Eilberg and Laura Bechtolsheimer on the pony team. Seeking to regain individual gold, Phoebe Peters finished second whereas Alexandra Hellings backed her up strongly with a lovely ride on Erin Williams' beautiful bay Der Kleine Lord (by Der Feine Lord). She finished fourth with 73.564% and has a shot at an individual medal as well. All British riders placed within the top 12. Bethany Rose Horobin, who sadly missed the 2013 Europeans due to an injured pony, now made a stand on her chestnut Gigolo (by Going East) by slotting in 7th with 72.103%. Rebecca Bell and her Valido's Sunshine were twelfth with 71.692%.
Peters explained that she was "quite happy with the test. The canter work was strong, but I lost too many marks in trot. I have to work on that for the individual test. I'll discuss it with my trainer and come back and fight."
"I'm very proud of the girls," said British chef d'equipe Liz Mills. "All rode really well and we're very happy with silver."
The Dutch are usually go home with silver, but this year were bettered by a strong British team and landed in the bronze medal spot. Still, the young girls from The Netherlands put a brave fight and were very consistent, all scoring above 70%. Lisanne Zoutendijk was the team anchor with her fifth place with 73.179% score on Champ of Class. Febe van Zwambagt and her buckskin Coco Jambo were 10th with 71.821%, Joelle Peters and Haasendonk's Sultan 13th with 71.667 and Demy Kurstjens on Ciske 14th with 71.308%.
Dutch team trainer Tineke Bartels commented that "we tried really hard for a team medal but it was such a high level sport here. We had to fight hard just to get any team medal." Bartels was also very appreciative about the thorough and friendly organisation in Millstreet. "Now we know how far it is for the Irish to come to our place. There is not too much stress (at this show). Each small problem gets solved."
The Danish team followed in a distance in fourth place with 212.795% while the Italian team were the absolute shooting stars in the nations' ranking in fifth place with 208.538%. Their team anchor was Valentina Remold on the palomino Prince of Glory, who finished 8th with 72.077%. Switzerland was a strong sixth with 206.128 after Naomi Winnewisser and Diamant scored 70.359% and the inexperienced Belgian B-team slotted in seventh (only one place lower than what the A-team did in 2013) after a wonderful ride from Amber Heidbuchel on Ashen Dew Drop (69.128%).
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of 2014 European Pony Championships