Team Germany, Rose Oatley, and Marie Sohler Win Gold at 2024 European Junior Riders Championships

-- as the European JR Championships co-incided with the start of the 2024 Olympic Games, Eurodressage was late on producing a report on the Junior competition.

-- Text and Photos © Eurodressage (this article expresses Eurodressage's' eye-witness account and opinion)  - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS for social media

Team Germany and German riders Rose Oatley and Marie Sohler became the winners of the three gold medals up for grabs at the 2024 European Junior Riders Championships held at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium, on  24 - 28 July 2024.

Sentower Park provided outstanding conditions for this combined Europeans which featured the Championships also for the pony and children riders. Blessed with fine summer weather, the event became a celebration of youth sport with the hopes that the venue will re-apply with the FEI for another European Dressage championships soon.

Golden Germany Untouchable

Sixty-seven combinations contested the team competition with no less than 15 countries represented. There was no doubt about the superiority of the German junior team. Already three riders in, the Germans were so far in the lead that the performance of the fourth rider no longer mattered for their winning team score. 

Judges Van Daele, Vint-Warmington, Kessler, Trimborn, and Van Twist saw the winning ride in Rose Oatley's performance aboard the 9-year old Oldenburg mare Sommernacht (by Rocco Granata x San Remo). The mare has three outstanding basic gaits, but dealt with quite a bit of tension throughout the test. The halt at entry was tense, the mare blowked in the walk pirouettes and lost the clarity and also the canter work was ridden under high voltage. However, the four flying changes were huge, just like the extended walk, and the mare easily achieves overtrack in the trot lengthenings. They scored the high score of the class, 76.727%, with all judges putting her first unanimously. 

Germany's winning team score of  223.696 points was further built up with the results of Maria Teresa Pohl (3rd with 73.636%) and Marie Sohler (4th with 73.333%). Germany's drop score was 72.758% riddeb by Alix von Borries on Feingefuhl (by Furstenball x Farewell). The latter rode convincing movements but the mare often gaped.

Maria Teresa Pohl saddles the 8-year old KWPN stallion Lennox US (by Grand Galaxy Win x Rousseau) rode a strong test with the proper bending on the voltes. In the extended walk the horse could march a bit more and the left walk pirouette was better than the right one. The flying changes were big, but overall the rider needed to have kept the hands more quiet instead shaking the bit in the mouth. Marie Sohler and the 8-year old Oldenburg stallion Global Player (by Grand Galaxy Win x Don Schufro) rode lovely trot extensions, but at times the trot work was a bit too floaty/passagey and the horse lost the rhythm in the left volte.The four flying changes were big but one was croup high. The test looked a bit rushed, lacking the polishes execution of riding corners, and there could have been a higher degree of  preparation in the different exercises. Sohler had the high score in the first group of team test riders that went on Wednesday, but her individual scores showed a significant spread from 71.970% to 74.394%

Return Silver for Denmark

The Danish team were back on the silver step of the podium at this year's Europeans with 216.122 points.

The team surprise ride coming from newcomer Anna Teibel Raben aboard the 7-year old Danish gelding Sparaday (by Torveslettens Spartacus x Don Frederic). Raben came out of nowhere to ride her first international show ever in May 2024 on a different horse (Quickstar) to then head to the Danish team selection trial at the CDIO-JR Hagen in June with Sparaday, where she was second in the team test. In Opglabbeek the combination was second in the team test with a score of 73.909%. The dark bay horse loudly ground its teeth but produced good trot extensions and had a good V-moment in the rhythm in the extended walk. The horse was fluent and balanced in the lateral movements and voltes. The flying changes to the right were excellent, but the first change to the left seemed in two phases although only two judges scored it 6.5 and the others between 7 and 8. The extended canter was powerful but the end halt wide behind.

Denmark's second best score was 71.970% ridden by another team rookie, Clara Cordes Arnkjaer on the 12-year old Danish mare Brianna (by Bogegardens Boney M x Romancier). The pair excelled in the quiet contact in the bridle. There was a good cadence in trot but a slight loss of rhythm in the shoulder-in right. The extended walk was big, but the rhythm improved on the diagonal. However  the walk became lateral before the right walk pirouette. In the canter half pass right the mare dropped a bit on the forehand. The changes were fluent. 

Denmark's third score was 70.243% ridden by Michella Skovsager aboard the 11-year old Blue Hors Zampalo (by Zack x Brentano II). The chestnut has a lovely front leg use, but the horse is not equally elastic on both reins with the bending and flexion to the left more stiff. Zampalo generated much overtrack in the extended walk but there was a loss of activity in the walk pirouette left and the horse got slower in the rhythm. Three flying changes were fine, one in two phases.

Denmark's drop score was 67,455% ridden by more experienced team rider Josephine Gert Nielsen on her 9-year old Hanoverian Bravio Bianco (by Belantis x De Niro). The trot off after the halt at entry was not on the aid and overall in the trot work the horse needs to be more on the hindquarters and up in the bridle. Nonetheless, Nielsen rode a smooth trot tour. The horse is soft-footed in the extended walk but the front and hindquarters do not seem so connected.  The extended trots were expressive, but could improve in the rhythm. The extended canter was lovely, but there was a hiccup in the third flying change.

The Netherlands Bounce Back to Bronze

After a "desasterous" year in 2023 in which the Dutch team, which usually ends up on the podium in the youth divisions, dropped to a 10th (!!) at the Europeans, Team Orange bounced back in a big way and bagged bronze with 214.364 points.

Holland's best scoring rider in the team test was Yasmin Westerink aboard the 12-year old Oldenburg Amphitryon (by Ampere x Rosario) with an 8th place on 71.667%. The trot work was very scopey and uphill with lift in the forequarters, yet at times a bit hollow in the back. The pair rode smooth voltes and a shoulder in right. In between the walk pirouettes there was a slight loss of the rhythm. Overall the contact with the bridle was strong and the horse's mouth appeared lathered in sugar. The flying changes were very established, but there was a bobble in the fourth one. The extended canter was big and off the ground.

Esmee Boers and the 9-year old KWPN mare Kiki G (by Vivaldi x Rousseau) was right behind her team mate in 9th place with 71.515%. The athletic bay mare is a clear leg mover, hurrying in the trot extensions, but achieving plenty of overtrack.  The extended walk had two hooves overstep, but was rather 'stomping' in its leg technique. The half pass right was better in rhythm and regularity than the left one. The four flying changes all worked out and the highlight of the ride was probably the very quiet, consistent contact with the mouth.

Holland's third score was ridden by Morgan Walraven aboard the 8-year old Westfalian mare Benecia (by Benicio x Londonderry) with 71.182% and a 10th place. The trot work had much cadence and suspension and this mare showed lots of freedom in the shoulder. There was a break in the rhythm in the shoulder in right.  In the extended walk she marched well with two hooves overtrack. The second flying change was in two phases but only two judges saw that and scored it appropriately. The other three changes were fine.

Holland's scratch score was 69.879% ridden by Dominique van Dalsen aboard the 10-year old KWPN gelding Just Johnson (by Johnson x Florencio). They placed 17th with that mark. The trot work was very up tempo and energetic. There was too much angle in the shoulder in right and the extended walk did not have the most generous overtrack. Van Dalsen rode the horse with the pedal to the mettle, always riding him in front of the aids. The horse was not very happy with that and looked a bit sour, but he did produce four impressive flying changes.

The highest ranked non-team medal winner was Brit Myles Graham aboard the 17-year old British bred Nibeley Union Hit (by Nibeley Union Jack x Sandro Hit). He finished sixth with 72.182% The dark bay mare is not a flashy mover but was presented so beautifully and when it comes to "real dressage" they gave a masterclass of how junior riders should present horses! The trot work was smooth and secure, the horse was elastic in the contact and the halt for rein back was outstanding.  The trot extensions were correct, the extended walk had good relaxation, even though the horse does not have the biggest overstep.  The left walk pirouette was better than the right one. The flying changes were good. This ride could have scored much higher as it displayed proper dressage training, compared to higher ranked riders on better moving horses, but struggling with contact, collection and bending.

Individual Test: Oatley Golden

For German-Australian born Rose Oatley the 2024 Europeans was a mirror scenario to 2023 in Kronberg, where she won the team and individual test, but dropped off the podium in the Kur to fourth place. This happened identically in Opglabbeek!

The individual test podium featured two Germans and one Dutch rider. Rose Oatley and Sommernacht topped the board with a whopping 77.147% score. All judges placed her first. Rose trains with her mother, Australian Olympian Kristy Oatley.

The silver medal went to Marie Sohler and Global Player with 74.706%. Germany's team newcomer picked up her first individual silver medal in her career. She trains with the Werndls in Aubenhausen, but with the overlap of the Olympics, had Sebastian Heinze and Hans-Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen by her side.

The bronze went to Dutch Yasmin Westerink and Amphitryon who scored 73.735%. She trains with Dutch Olympic medal winner Adelinde Cornelissen.

The individual test concluded on Saturday and in the end seven riders were eliminated, reducing the final ranking to 59 competitors having completed the second test. Danish sensation in the team test, Raben on Sparaday, could not cope with the pressure and dropped to 21st place in the individual test (68.188%) and did not make it to the freestyle.

Kur Gold for Sohler

The 2024 European Championships in Opglabbeek concluded with the junior Kur to Music finals. 

Sohler and Gobal Player topped the board for kur gold with 77.920%. She ranked first with three judges and two had her second. The marks ranged between 76.025% and 79.125%. Global Player is a licensed stallion which won the 20222 World Young Horse Championships under Eva Möller and silver at the 2022 WCYH under Leonie Richter.

Yasmin Westerink was able to climb the ladder and added a silver to her tally. Aboard Amphitryon she posted 76.795% for a second place in the freestyle. She placed first with the Dutch judge (78.125%). Her low score was 75.375% from the French judge.

The bronze went to German Alix von Borries on Feingefühl with a total of 76.400%. She ranked between first and fifth place on marks going from 77.00% to 74.875%

- Text and Photos © Eurodressage  

Eurodressage took photos of all pony and junior competitors in Opglabbeek (and some children).  If you are interested in photos for social media use or print, send us an email and you can BUY our photos. No reproduction allowed - NO SCREENSHOTS!

Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2024 European Pony, Children, Junior Riders Championships
Scores: 2024 European Pony, Children, Junior Riders Championships