Emily Rother Wins Individual Gold at the 2020 European Children Championships

Shows

2020 European Youth Championships

Germany's Emily Rother is the individual gold medalist at the 2020 European Children Championships which concluded today 14 August 2020 at Stable Unikornis in Pilisjaszfalu, Hungary.

The 2020 European Children Championships are part of the 2020 FEI Dressage European Championships, which are held three weeks in a row in the Budapest region, featuring all five youth dressage divisions from children to Under 25 Grand Prix.

The Individual tes was judged by Annette Fransen Iacobaeus & Trond Asmyr for the Quality Component and by Alice Schwab, Katrina Wüst, and Freddy Leyman for the Technical score.

Rother is the 2020 European Children Champion

After winning team gold on Wednesday and placing first in the team championship test, German Emily Rother completed the task on Friday in an impressive manner. She scored no less than 86.145% in the individual test with her 9-year old Oldenburg gelding Jasper (by Johnson x Pik Donnerhall) and had the judges unanimously on her side.

The 14-year old Rother received 76.790% for the technical execution of her ride and a whopping 95.50% for the quality of riding with 9.7 for seat, 9.4 for aids, 9.5 for precision and 9.6 for general impression.

"Emily is a rider with a lot of feeling. Today she once more bravely rode forwards and showed off the strengths of her horse," said German Children team captain Caro Roost.

The South German based Rother has been training for the past year with Sabina and Jörg Schrödter.

“I have only had Jasper for the last six months and this is just our fifth show together. My parents got him from my riding teacher Sabina Schroedter, and he gives everything to me," Emily explained. Her Jasper was previously trained by Carina Duelli.

Silver for Paschertz

Following in the distance in silver medal position was 13-year old team mate Clara Paschertz on the 7-year old Oldenburg gelding Danubio OLD (by Dante Weltino x Laudabilis).

A fall from her tall dark bay gelding during the team award ceremony and a quick trip to the hospital for a check up did not rattle the petite Paschertz who was back in full focus mode for the Individual Test. As last rider to go in the individual test, she scored 81.355% for the silver medal and got 73.210% for the technical part and 89.50 for the quality part, with 9.0 for seat, 8.8 for aids, and 9.0 for precision and general impression.

"Fortunately she got away with a fright and bruise and nothing worse," said Roost about the accident. "She completed the individual test very well and her horse gave her the necessary feeling of security again."

Paschertz trains with Dirk Heyse.

Bronze for Knipscheer

The Dutch team won the silver on Wednesday and it was not the expected Kebie Raaijmakers who made a run for the podium, but her team made Maura Knipscheer who ended up on the bronze medal step with a third place score of 80.940% Aboard the 15-year old KWPN gelding Amaretto (by Krack C x Jazz), Knipscheer posted 74.630% for the technical part and 87.250% for the quality component. She received 8.4 for seat, 9.0 for aids, 8.7 for precision and 8.8 for general impression.

"I never expected this," said a thrilled Knipscheer. "It was a big surprise to go home with a medal. Amaretto went really well, even though there were a few small things that could have been better. I have been riding him since March last year and this is my second European Children Championship. The Championship started off a bit difficulty with a heavy trip and that's why it went a bit less in the preliminary test. After the team test there was great relief and now it worked in the individual test. I'm very happy."

"Little Lion" Kebie Fourth

Dutch team mate Kebie Raaijmakers just missed out on top honour with a fourth place aboard the 13-year old Happy Feet (by Tuschinski x Animo), who already became a European Children's Champion in 2017 and 2018. Raaijmakers put in a brave effort and scored 80.051% to place fourth. She got 76.852% for the technical part, but scored a bit less than Knipscheer for the quality of riding (83.250%). The judges rewarded Kebie with 7.9 for seat ,8.5 for aids and precision and 8.4 for general impression.

"It was a thriller competition with the Germans and Dutch neck-to-neck," said Dutch Children team trainer Imke Schellekens-Bartels. "Maura rode a good test, faultfree and nice in the contact. She was really on form and got nice points. I had hoped for Kebie to win a medal too, so it was a bit of a disappointment. Kebie is like a little lion, so brave and combative. But still I'm very proud how the girls performed this week."

Austrian Bader Fifth

The top five was completed by Austrian Valeria Bader and her 14-year old Danish warmblood gelding Vemmetofte Roscoe (by Romanov x Stravinsky xx) on a score of 79.554%. She earned 71.358% for the technical part and 87.750 for the quality part with 8.7 for seat, 9.0 for aids, 8.6 for precision and 8.8 for general impression.