Tag Archives: Eventing Ch.

The Queen Crowns Michael Jung and Germany as European Champions

Golden moment: Germany’s Michael Jung jumps clear on fischerTakinou to win double gold at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle in Scotland (GBR). (Jon Stroud/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 13 September 2015 – German riders were simply the best on the final day of the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle (GBR) where, in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen, who presented the medals, they won team gold by more than 50 penalties and the matchless Michael Jung captured the fifth individual title of his career.

All four team members – Jung, Sandra Auffarth, who also took individual silver, Ingrid Klimke, and Dirk Schrade – went clear in the Jumping phase to give Germany a fifth successive team title. Their winning run began at the 2011 FEI European Eventing Championship at Luhmühlen (GER) and has included three European titles plus Olympic and world team golds.

Jung confirmed his place in Eventing history as one of the world’s greats when he equalled Ginny Elliot’s (GBR) record, set in the 1980s, of three European titles on three different horses. He has, however, now beaten her record of six consecutive individual medals – this is his seventh since his senior championship debut in 2009.

This third European title was perhaps the hardest fought, as it came on an inexperienced eight-year-old horse and after a Cross Country phase run in the most testing of weather.

“Now I can say I have a champion for the future,” said a visibly thrilled Jung, in a warning to the rest of the world that he is not planning to give anyone else a chance just yet. “fischerTakinou is a really good horse and I think he has the quality for the next championships.”

Great Britain, the silver medallists, has not been beaten at a home European Championship since 1959, but they faced a mountainous task when they had to add Nicola Wilson’s Cross Country penalties after the retirement of William Fox-Pitt.

“I feel rather fraudulent sitting here,” joked Fox-Pitt, who was competing at his 10th European Championship and has only once failed to bring home a medal. “But the girls did so well. They really deserved the silver.”

Pippa Funnell, who finished eighth on the nine-year-old Sandman 7, and Kitty King (Persimmon) both produced clear rounds, and team newcomer King, fourth, only missed an individual medal by 0.1 penalty. British individual Izzy Taylor, in overnight third with KBIS Briarlands Matilda, hit the planks to drop to sixth.

Funnell, European champion in 1999 and 2001, summed up a weekend of personal triumph: “I think the selectors hoped that with my experience I would coax a good result out of an inexperienced horse, but I didn’t need to coax at all. This has kept my Olympic dream alive.”

A difficult weekend for Wilson nearly got worse when she misjudged fence seven and One Two Many tripped through it, leaving her clinging on around his neck. “It felt like a lifetime in which I had plenty of time to think through the consequences of falling off,” she said. “I knew we were down to three riders and I kept saying ‘don’t fall off, don’t fall off!’ to myself.”

The French were a very happy quartet after taking the team bronze medal and securing their Olympic qualification. The icing on the cake was an individual bronze medal for team newcomer Thibaut Vallette.

The French army officer, a Lieutenant-Colonel based at the army equitation school at Saumur (FRA), jumped a superb clear round on Qing du Briot ENE HN, an 11-year-old Selle Francais by Eolien ll.

“I never expected this to happen,” said Vallette. “Our first job was to qualify for the Olympics so to come home with two medals is a real bonus.”

The other Olympic qualifying spot goes to the Swedes, who finished in fifth place behind the Netherlands, who had booked their ticket to Rio last year in Normandy.

The magnitude of the German victory will have left the rest of the world wondering what they can do to beat them. “You can see by our smiles how much this means to us,” said Ingrid Klimke. “But we are very aware that we have to keep working to stay here because there are many other nations who want to be standing where we are.”

“The best team has definitely won,” concluded Event Director Alec Lochore. “The Germans did the best job of dealing with Scotch mist!”

Full results on www.blair2015.com.

About the European champion

Michael Jung (GER), 33, is the first rider in history to hold Olympic, World and European titles simultaneously and the first to win five championship titles consecutively. He first came to prominence in 2009, when he won the Luhmühlen CCI4*, the FEI World Cup™ Eventing final in Strzegom (POL) and an individual European bronze medal in Fontainebleau (FRA), all on La Biosthetique Sam.

The pair went on to win the world title in Kentucky (USA) in 2010, double European gold in Luhmühlen in 2011 and double Olympic gold in London (GBR) in 2012. In 2013, they were second at Badminton CCI4*; this year they finished third at Kentucky (USA) and last weekend they added the Burghley CCI4* title to their collection.

Jung won a second European title, at Malmö (SWE) in 2013 on the nine-year-old Halunke, and last year finished second at Luhmühlen and won world team gold and individual silver medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy (FRA) on fischerRocana FST, also the winner of Kentucky CCI4* in April this year. He lives at Horb, Germany, where his parents, Joachim and Bridgette, own a riding establishment.

fischerTakinou is an eight-year-old chestnut gelding by the Jumping sire Jaguar Mail out of an Anglo-Arab mare. He is owned by the Jung family and Klaus and Sabine Fischer.

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By Kate Green

Blair 2015 Media Contact:

Bridget Jennings
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FEI Media Contacts:

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Germany Is Singing in the Rain after Cross Country

Cross Country leader Michael Jung (GER) looks set to make it three European titles in a row after a faultless performance on fischerTakinou at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle in Scotland (GBR), and has also put the German team way out in front. (Jon Stroud/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 12 September 2015 – The German team is ruling supreme with a massive nine-fence lead over Great Britain following Cross Country day at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship at Blair Castle (GBR) where relentless rain made conditions testing but also produced some brilliant, brave riding.

The standout performance was that of defending individual champion Michael Jung (GER), who flew around inside the optimum time with consummate ease on the eight-year-old fischerTakinou, the youngest horse in the field, and now has two fences in hand to win a third consecutive European title.

Jung is accustomed to success, but he was visibly overwhelmed at the talent and courage of his newest star, and had just one word at the finish: “perfect!” Afterwards, he added, “I knew fischerTakinou was a very fast horse and easy to handle at fences, but he ran like a steeplechaser. It was a brilliant feeling.”

His team mate Sandra Auffarth, the Dressage leader, is now in individual silver medal position after clocking up 11.2 time penalties on Opgun Louvo. She was held on course in the chilly rain while a fence was repaired, but she has such a trusting partnership with her 13-year-old chestnut gelding that they could pick up the threads of their smooth round seamlessly.

Ingrid Klimke (GER) is sixth on Horseware Hale Bob with 8.8 time penalties, while team pathfinder Dirk Schrade (GER) is lying eighth with 5.2 penalties on Hop And Skip.

Britain, the host nation, has five riders in the top 10, but unfortunately only two of them are team members: team rookie Kitty King, lying fifth on Persimmon, and former dual European champion Pippa Funnell, who is in 10th place on the youngster Sandman 7.

“I’m so relieved because I was feeling the pressure this morning,” said King. “Persimmon was feisty and I had to work to make him listen to me, but he was always looking for the flags and was so genuine. It was a good fun track to ride and it’s great to feel that I haven’t let anyone down.”

Funnell was emotional after her round: “I’ve never been so nervous at a championship. I didn’t want to pressurise such a lovely young horse but at the same time I knew I couldn’t go round quietly because I was riding for the team. The horse was classy; I’d love to think I could take him to the Rio Olympics.”

Nicola Wilson, who has produced numerous clear rounds for the British team over the years, had a shock runout with One Two Many at the double of corners sited in the arena (fence 16) and anchorman William Fox-Pitt unexpectedly retired Bay My Hero. The 12-year-old gelding was clearly not enjoying the wet ground and ran out, for the first time in his career, at the brush arrowhead at fence 17.

The stylish Izzy Taylor, competing as an individual for Britain, was one of only three riders to achieve the optimum time of 10 minutes 13 seconds and is now in individual bronze position on the good mare KBIS Briarlands Matilda. Gemma Tattersall (GBR) was the first to beat the clock with a dazzling round on Arctic Soul and is now seventh, two places ahead of Laura Collett on Grand Manoeuvre.

Dressage runner-up Holly Woodhead (GBR) saw her medal chances evaporate when DHI Lupison ran out at the fourth fence, and Francis Whittington (GBR), seventh, retired Easy Target.

The French team’s quest for Olympic qualification is a step closer after three clear rounds and they are now in bronze position with Thibaut Vallette close to an individual medal in fourth place on Qing du Briot ENE HN.

The pressure was on when their second rider, Karim Florent Laghouag, fell with Entebbe de Hus at the influential downhill combination, the Haggis, Neeps and Tatties (fences 21-22), where the middle element – the Haggis – was later removed due to the wet ground.

Team anchorman Thomas Carlile (FRA), currently 24th on Sirocco du Gers, said: “We really had to finish for the sake of our Olympic qualification. It was not for me to play an individual role, the team was the priority, and my horse has played a huge part in this, he was very generous.”

The Netherlands, who also lost their second rider, Alice Naber-Lozeman (ACSI Peter Parker), with a fall at fence 20, are in fourth place. Sweden is fifth but will need their three remaining riders to pass the horse inspection to gain their Olympic qualification, as their pathfinders Johan Lundin and Johnny Cash fell at fence 18.

The Spanish team is sixth after a highly creditable Cross Country performance, and is the only nation other than Germany to have four clear rounds.

The Irish team had unbelievably bad luck, with falls for Joseph Murphy (Sportsfield Othello) at fence 22, the Tatties; Padraig McCarthy (Simon Porloe) at the corner at 16; and Austin O’Connor in the water at 19. Only Michael Ryan (Ballylynch Adventure) managed to get home clear and is now in 14th.

There were 35 clear rounds and 45 completions. Irish individual Sam Watson, currently 13th on Horseware Lukeswell, summed up a memorable day of competition: “I love it when the weather is like this because the good riders come to the fore,” he said. “You just have to deal with whatever comes out of the heavens!”

Tomorrow’s Jumping phase starts at 11.30 with the lower placed riders. Follow all the action with live results on www.blair2015.com and coverage on FEI TV www.feitv.org.

Blair 2015 on social media

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By Kate Green

Blair 2015 Media Contact:

Bridget Jennings
Blair@jbpromotions.co.uk
+44 7850 822820

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Germany Takes Control after Dressage

Going for more gold: World champions Sandra Auffarth (GER) and Opgun Louvo take a 0.3 penalty lead over Britain’s Holly Woodhead at the end of the Dressage phase. (Jon Stroud/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 10 September 2015 – Germany is on track to win a fifth successive team gold medal after their third and fourth team riders, world champion Sandra Auffarth and Ingrid Klimke, rode superb Dressage tests at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship at Blair Castle (GBR) today.

However, their team manager Hans Melzer is taking nothing for granted. “These riders are professionals and pressure is a good thing,” he said. “We have learned a lot from Fontainebleau [the 2009 FEI European Championship] when, having just won the Olympics in Hong Kong, we had a team disaster. So we will be concentrating hard and watching other teams, and also the weather, in case we need to change our plans about certain fences. But our horses are all well and we’re excited.”

World champion Sandra Auffarth, now in the lead on Opgun Louvo with 31.4 penalties, just 0.3 ahead of British individual Holly Woodhead, added: “Tomorrow is another day and I am focussed on that now, but I must admit that I am hopeful of doing well. I think this course will suit my horse.”

Klimke is currently in eighth place individually on Horseware Hale Bob with a score of 37.8. “I was a bit worried because the wind was blowing and ‘Bobby’ might be thinking he was going across country, but he did a wonderful job and was supple and obedient,” Klimke said of her Badminton runner-up.

“He has a rather ‘thoroughbred’ canter, which isn’t so great for Dressage, but he was very ‘through’ in his transitions and let me show how responsive he is to my aids. The Cross Country will be perfect for him because he is well balanced and full of energy. Our trainer Chris Bartle always reminds us that it’s not a Dressage competition!”

Great Britain, whose last European team gold medal was in Fontainebleau (FRA), are currently in second place, 10 penalties behind Germany.

Unusually, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) is the team discard score after a Dressage test that will have left the world number two slightly disappointed. He scored 43.0 on Bay My Hero, but any hopes of breaking the 40-penalty barrier were dashed with average marks for trot work and paces.

Instead, it was former dual European champion Pippa Funnell (GBR) who produced the counting score, 41.0, on the inexperienced nine-year-old Sandman 7. “I think the horse was a little nervous with all the people and the atmosphere and I know he could have done better but, for this stage of his career, I am very pleased with him,” she said of the gelding by Sandro Boy that she bought from Germany as a six-year-old.

“It’s a huge honour to be in the team. I was a little surprised, but I’m thrilled to be with William [Fox-Pitt] and Nicola [Wilson] again, and Kitty [King] has been going so well. What is exciting is the strength and depth we’ve got. Every one of the 12 British riders here could get a medal.”

The cost of one Cross Country mistake covers the top four teams after Dressage. France and Sweden, the bronze and silver team medallists in Malmö (SWE), are now in third and fourth positions and looking good in their quest to secure qualification for the Olympic Games in Rio next year.

Niklas Lindbäck (SWE), a team silver medallist in 2013, is best of the Swedish team in 10th place with a score of 38.1 on the 12-year-old bay mare Cendrillon. “I tried to do my best to help the team,” he said. “My horse did some amazing trot work but was a little bit tense in the canter. We struggled to keep it together but she was doing her best for me.

“We still have a long way to go as a team but if we do our usual Cross Country performance we should get there [to Rio]. However, we’re not thinking about that too much; we’re competing for medals!”

The Cross Country starts at 11.00am tomorrow. Follow all the action with live results on www.blair2015.com and coverage on FEI TV www.feitv.org.

Blair 2015 on social media

Facebook www.facebook.com/blairhorsetrials
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By Kate Green

Blair 2015 Media Contact:

Bridget Jennings
Blair@jbpromotions.co.uk
+44 7850 822820

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Youngsters to the Fore as Holly Woodhead Takes Dressage Lead

Holly Woodhead (GBR) and DHI Lupison perform an outstanding test to take the lead with 31.7 penalties after the first day of Dressage at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships. (Jon Stroud/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 10 September 2015 – Youth proved no barrier at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship at Blair Castle (GBR) when 21-year-old Holly Woodhead (GBR) and DHI Lupison took the lead after the first day of Dressage with the outstanding score of 31.7 penalties.

And Michael Jung (GER), the defending champion, produced a masterful display on the youngest horse in the field, the eight-year-old fischerTakinou, and is in second place on 33.5.

The first two British team riders, Kitty King, who is lying fifth on Persimmon, and Nicola Wilson, in third place on One Two Many, both scored under 40 and have put the host nation in the lead at this early stage of the competition.

Woodhead, an individual silver medallist at the 2014 Young Rider European Championship, has only ridden at three-star level a handful of times, but a win in the national under-25 championships and her ability to score highly in the Dressage arena prompted the selectors to give her valuable experience at senior level.

“My team mates told me to try to stay focussed and to enjoy myself,” said Woodhead, who produced a beautifully soft test on the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Lupicor.

Jung explained that he had chosen to ride FisherTakinou instead of his 2013 champion Halunke because he felt the chestnut Anglo-Arab, which he spotted as a six-year-old at Le Lion d’Angers (FRA), would cope better with the hills. “He is a wonderful horse,” said Jung. “He listens to you and is very relaxed.”

If Jung were to win gold again this weekend, he would equal British rider Ginny Elliot’s record, set in the 1980s, of three successive European titles on three different horses.

Nicola Wilson said the mood in the British camp was one of elation as two more individual riders, Laura Collett (Grand Manoeuvre), and Sarah Bullimore (Lilly Corinne), a late substitute for Dani Evans, have both scored personal bests and are in sixth and seventh places.

France have had an excellent day as well because their first rider, Thibaut Vallette, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the French army, scored 36.8 to lie fourth on Qing du Briot ENE HN, and Karim Florent Laghouag (Entebbe de Hus) is in eighth place on 38.7 to put the team into second place at this stage with Olympic qualification as the main goal.

“My horse has super paces but he can be a bit shy in the arena, so I was pleased that he felt able to show off here,” said 41-year-old Vallette, who is competing at his first championships. “I’m very proud to be on the team. I don’t mind going first, as I like to concentrate on myself at a competition rather than be distracted by watching other people.”

Dirk Schrade (GER) and the 16-year-old Hop And Skip, holders of European and world team gold medals, did their usual reliable job for the German team, which is in third place, and scored 43.1 to lie 11th individually.

As Schrade explained, their real job is on Saturday morning when the aim will be to give the team a confidence-boosting start on the Cross Country. “Dressage is not our best phase, but now we can both enjoy ourselves!” he said.

Sweden is currently in fourth place, ahead of Ireland, whose first rider, Joseph Murphy (Sportsfield Othello) was quickly re-routed from Burghley after Aoife Clark’s horse Vaguely North had to be withdrawn. “It’s been a rollercoaster week, but team spirits are great,” said Murphy.

Irish team rookie Padraig McCarthy has made a great start to his first championship and is in 15th place on a score of 46.6 with Simon Porloe, the horse formerly ridden on the British team by his fiancée Lucy Wiegersma in 2013.

“I’m pinching myself; it’s like a dream,” admitted McCarthy, who only started Eventing at novice level last year. He originally competed in Jumping, but gave up riding in 2003 to concentrate on his career in economics until meeting Wiegersma in 2011.

“It’s been quite a steep learning curve and Nick Turner [team manager] has taken quite a gamble giving me a shot,” said McCarthy, “but we have had some consistent form Cross Country and in the FEI Nations Cup™ this year.”

The competition is building up excitingly, and there is great expectation for the teams’ third and fourth riders who perform their Dressage tests tomorrow. The first rider, British individual Izzy Taylor, is in the arena at 10.20 and the first team rider, the Netherlands’ Merel Blom, rides her test at 11.08.

Follow all the action with live results on www.blair2015.com and coverage on FEI TV www.feitv.org.

Blair 2015 on social media

Facebook www.facebook.com/blairhorsetrials
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By Kate Green

Blair 2015 Media Contact:

Bridget Jennings
Blair@jbpromotions.co.uk
+44 7850 822820

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Final Countdown Begins with 66 through First Horse Inspection

British team member Nicola Wilson trots up One Two Many at the first horse inspection for the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships which starts tomorrow at Blair Castle in Scotland (GBR). (Jon Stroud/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 9 September 2015 – There were plenty of lively horses at the first horse inspection for the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship at Blair Castle (GBR) as riders have clearly taken seriously the advice that they should get their horses fit for this spectacular venue in the Scottish Highlands.

The Ground Jury of President Sue Baxter (GBR), Andrew Bennie (NZL) and Sándor Fulop (HUN), all smartly clad in Scottish tartan, passed all the horses except one, Igor Atrokhov’s Russian team horse Indigo Pyreneen.

A total of 66 combinations will go forward to the Dressage phase which starts at 10.00 tomorrow with a Guinea Pig test by Scottish rider Olivia Wilmot on Zebedee de Foja.

The Netherlands, reigning world bronze medallists, have been drawn first to go of the 11 teams: Theo van de Vendel riding Zindane will be first into the Dressage arena at 10.20.

Ireland, fielding Joseph Murphy (Sportsfield Othello) as pathfinder, is second, followed by Italy, Great Britain, Switzerland, reigning champions Germany, Russia, France, Sweden, Spain and Belgium.

William Fox-Pitt (GBR), again the anchorman for the British team, had to hang on tight to Bay My Hero as the Irish Sport Horse showed his wellbeing by prancing and bucking down the trot-up strip. Fox-Pitt, 46, is competing in his 10th European Championship. His tally of 10 medals, which includes six team golds, equals the record set by Lucinda Green (GBR), a back-to-back champion in 1975 and 1977.

Tomorrow will be a big day for Kitty King (GBR); riding Persimmon, she will make her team debut in the pathfinding slot for the British team, who are anxious to uphold honour on home ground. Nicola Wilson (One Two Many) and former dual European champion Pippa Funnell (Sandman 7) take the second and third team slots.

The hugely experienced combination of Dirk Schrade (GER) and Hop And Skip will go first for Germany, followed by Michael Jung on the eight-year-old Anglo Arab FischerTakinou, world champions Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo and, finally, Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob.

It is a first visit to Blair Castle for Jung, who comes fresh from his brilliant Burghley CCI4* win on Sunday. “This is a wonderful place and a beautiful course,” said the defending champion, who will be performing his Dressage test tomorrow afternoon. “When you look down [on the showground] from the top of the hill, it all looks so small! My horse is feeling very happy and relaxed and I’m looking forward to starting.”

Follow all the action with live results on www.blair2015.com and coverage on FEI TV www.feitv.org.

Blair 2015 on social media

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UK Sport

The Longines FEI European Eventing Championship 2015 at Blair Castle forms part of UK Sport’s major events programme, which is investing around £40million of National Lottery funding to bring up to 100 world-class events to Great Britain to help build a strong legacy from London 2012 and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Championship is also supported by EventScotland, who have a longstanding relationship with the team at Blair Castle.

By Kate Green

Blair 2015 Media Contact:

Bridget Jennings
Blair@jbpromotions.co.uk
+44 7850 822820

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Fifteen Nations Head for the Highlands

Michael Jung (GER) will be defending his team and individual title at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle in Scotland (GBR) this week. (Kit Houghton/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 7 September 2015 — Riders from 15 nations – 11 with full teams – are making their way north to the first ever Longines FEI European Eventing Championships to be held in Scotland, at the fairytale venue of Blair Castle (GBR), historic seat of the Dukes of Atholl.

There they are assured of a traditional Scottish welcome at the beautiful white castle in the Highlands and a big, bold Cross Country course designed by the 1991 European champion, Ian Stark (GBR).

The scene is set for a thrilling competition. The German team, who has now arrived with their team trainer Christopher Bartle at his Yorkshire base, are clear favourites. They may not have won a European team title in Britain since 1959, but they have captured every team title going since 2011 and are the defending champions.

“We are going with a lot of confidence,” said Ingrid Klimke (GER), a team gold medallist and individual silver medallist at Malmö (SWE) in 2013. “Everyone says that it’s beautiful there – and very hilly! We have all been very careful to get our horses as fit as possible.”

Klimke, who will ride her Badminton runner-up Horseware Hale Bob, continued: “It is quite something that we have come so far as a team [reigning Olympic and World champions], but it is also even harder to stay there! You only have to look at some of the surprising results at Burghley to see that anything can happen.”

Her team mates will include Michael Jung, the defending European and also reigning Olympic champion, who comes fresh from his Burghley win and will be riding FischerTakinou at Blair, and the world champions Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo.

Great Britain have not been beaten on home soil in a Europeans since 1962, and they will not be giving up without a fight. As host nation, they can run 12 riders, which gives chances to field both very experienced riders and those having their first taste of a senior championship.

This will be a 19th senior championship for William Fox-Pitt, who already has six European team golds to his name, plus three individual medals. He is likely to be team anchor, on his 2014 Kentucky (USA) winner Bay My Hero, and will be backed up by Nicola Wilson, who is well known for her brilliant pathfinding on Opposition Buzz. She will be riding the classy One Two Many at Blair.

Pippa Funnell (GBR), back-to-back European champion in 1999-2001, also has great team experience and is sure to be at her most competitive on her exciting young horse Sandman 7, winner of the Chatsworth CIC3* and seventh at Bramham CCI3* (GBR) this year.

In addition to the medals contest, a number of nations will be seeking qualification for the Olympic Games in Rio next year. Germany, Britain and the Netherlands, the gold, silver and bronze team medallists at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy (FRA), are already qualified, as are Ireland. However, France, who have yet to win a European team title, and Sweden, silver medallists in 2013, are among the countries that will be bidding for the two remaining places on the Rio 2016 start list still available to the European countries.

The 11 nations fielding full teams are Belgium, Spain, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland, with Austria, Denmark, Finland and Poland sending individuals.

Blair Castle has played host to international horse trials since 1989, including Junior and Young Rider European Championships, but relatively few European Championship contenders will have ridden there before. They need to have prepared themselves for steep hills, and fences shaped like Scottish features such as haggises, bothies, stags’ antlers and lochans.

“I have tried to create a Cross Country course that reflects the heritage of Scotland and provides a true test of horsemanship,” said Course Designer Ian Stark, for whom it is a first championship track. “I have used the hills as sympathetically as possible. Riders who attack the course but who ride intelligently and conserve their horses’ energy for the later combinations should enjoy a thrilling ride.”

Follow all the action with live results on www.blair2015.com and coverage on FEI TV www.feitv.org.

Blair 2015 on social media

Facebook www.facebook.com/blairhorsetrials
Twitter @BCIHT #Blair2015
Instagram @BCIHT #Blair2015

UK Sport

The Longines FEI European Eventing Championship 2015 at Blair Castle forms part of UK Sport’s major events programme, which is investing around £40million of National Lottery funding to bring up to 100 world-class events to Great Britain to help build a strong legacy from London 2012 and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Championship is also supported by EventScotland, who have a longstanding relationship with the team at Blair Castle.

By Kate Green

Blair 2015 Media Contact:

Bridget Jennings
Blair@jbpromotions.co.uk
+44 7850 822820

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Magnificent Jung Makes It Another Golden Day for Germany

The victorious German team at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in Malmö (SWE): Hans Melzer (chef d’equipe), Michael Jung (individual gold), Dirk Schrade, Ingrid Klimke (individual silver) and Andreas Dibowski (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 1 September 2013 – The spectators at Malmö (SWE) burst into noisy celebrations as Michael Jung (GER) produced yet another brilliant piece of riding to retain his individual title at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships and lead his German team mates to a second consecutive gold medal.

“I feel wonderful,” said Jung simply. “And the best thing is that I have a truly great horse for the future.”

The Germans arrived at Malmö (SWE) as clear favourites and they more than justified it, showing fantastic horsemanship over the four days of competition to win team gold by 20 penalties from the host nation, Sweden.

France took team bronze, with Nicolas Touzaint their highest placed rider in 11th place on the stallion Lesbos.

Ingrid Klimke (GER), one of the most delightful personalities in Eventing, was a popular winner of the individual silver medal and William Fox-Pitt salvaged British pride with individual bronze on the handsome stallion Chilli Morning.

Jung had already set a new record when he became the first rider to hold Olympic, World and European Championship titles simultaneously. And today he set another standard by becoming the first rider to win four individual gold medals in succession.

His mount, the magnificent black gelding Halunke, owned by Siegried Brietmayer, Anette Schmid and Hung’s parents, Joachim and Brigitte, is the first nine-year-old to win the title since Nicolas Touzaint’s Galan de Sauvagere in 2003.

The pair’s faultless performance in the first two phases ensured Jung had a generous margin to win, but there was a nervous moment when Halunke hit the first rail in the Jumping arena before going on to leave the rest of the fences up.

“He was a little bit too forward at the first fence and I was a little bit nervous after that, but I knew I had to close him up a bit more and then it works better,” said Jung. “But all the team did an incredible job.”

Ingrid Klimke laughed that it was a pleasant surprise for her to move up the leader board on the final day, a reference to her former team horse FRH Butts Abraxxas’s difficulties with the final Jumping phase. This time she finished on her Dressage score of 39.4 on new ride FRH Escada JS, a nine-year-old mare bred on Jumping bloodlines by Embassy.

“I’m very proud and happy with my fantastic horse,” said Klimke. “Our aim as a team was to get in front right from the start and to stay there. We really wanted to win this European Championships. It’s not that we expect it, it’s not that we’re laid back and think it’s a present we get every year; we work hard for it. We have very good trainers, and we all work together as a team, and that’s why we are unbeatable!”

William Fox-Pitt joked that he was resigned to having to wait a little longer for his first individual title. “There has been a bit of banter in the British camp because both my friends, Pippa [Funnell] and Tina [Cook] have won the title before. I guess I’ll just have to keep trying. I’m really delighted to get a medal at all and thrilled with my horse.

“It’s the first time we’ve not won a (team) medal for 20 years, and we’re not used to it, but it’s been a fantastic week and it’s shown the sport in a great light.”

One of the best results of the Championships was the team silver for Sweden, their first team medal since bronze in 1997. Their chances of individual medals sadly evaporated when Ludwig Svennerstal hit two fences on Shamwari, but the overall team performance shows that the nation is really on its way up after fourth place at the London Olympic Games last year.

“We’re very excited,” said Niklas Lindback, who finished fourth on his Dressage score with Mister Pooh. “Fourth place isn’t the most fun place, admittedly, but I couldn’t have done any more. I hope Sweden can now build on this, because we have worked so hard to prepare for the Championships.”

Malmö’s Sport Director Per Magnussen (SWE) commented: “We fought very hard for Sweden to win the right to hold a European Championship and it’s been great for a small country [in Eventing] to get the chance to show what we can do. It’s going to be great for the sport in Sweden.”

About the medallists:

Individual gold

Michael Jung (GER), 31, has set new standards in Eventing with his natural talent and attention to detail. He is the first rider in history to hold Olympic, World and European titles simultaneously and the first to win four championship titles consecutively. He first came to prominence in 2009, when he won the Luhmühlen CCI4*, the FEI World Cup Eventing final in Strzegom (POL) and an individual European bronze medal in Fontainebleau (FRA), all on La Biosthetique Sam. The pair went on to win the world title in Kentucky (USA) in 2010, double European gold in Luhmühlen in 2011 and double Olympic gold in London (GBR) in 2012. This year they were second at Badminton CCI4* at their first attempt. Jung lives at Horb, Germany, where his family owns a riding establishment.

Individual silver

Ingrid Klimke (GER), 45, is Germany’s most successful female event rider. She has now won five Eventing team gold medals: two at Olympic level (2008 and 2012 on FRH Butts Abraxxas), one World (2006 on Sleep Late) and two European (2011 and 2013), as well as European team bronze and individual silver on Sleep Late in 2005. She was the runner-up at Badminton CCI4* in 2004 on Sleep Late and at Luhmühlen CCI4* in 2010 on FRH Butts Abraxxas. Klimke, who was only the second woman to be awarded the title of Riding Master, lives in Munster, Germany. Her late father, Dr Reiner Klimke, was one of the nation’s most successful Dressage riders. She is married to Andreas and has two daughters, Greta and Philippa.

Individual bronze

William Fox-Pitt (GBR), 44, has won a record 51 CCIs and has been world number one in the FEI Eventing rankings, but has yet to win an individual title. He has ridden for the senior British team 16 times in the last 20 years, winning three Olympic team medals (two silvers and a bronze), three World team medals (gold, silver and bronze), plus six European team golds and one bronze. This is his fourth individual medal, following World silver in 2010 and European individual silvers in 1997 and 2005. Fox-Pitt has won 11 CCI4*s, including Burghley a record six times, and is the only rider to have won five out of the world’s six CCI4*s. He lives near Sturminster Newton, Dorset, with his wife Alice, a television presenter for racing, and their three young children Oliver, Thomas and Chloe.

Full results on: http://malmoeventing.com.

Download the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships press kit: www.feipresskits.org.

HSBC & Equestrian Sport

HSBC, the platinum partner of the FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the world’s largest events on the international Eventing circuit since 2008. These events include the:

  • HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 (Luhmühlen, Germany)
  • HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2013 (Malmö, Sweden)
  • HSBC FEI Classics Series, which unites the top end of the international Eventing circuit, and offers the biggest prize pot in the sport of Eventing on an annual basis.

For more information on HSBC and equestrian sport, go to the HSBC FEI hub here, where you can also access information on:

HSBC Rankings

The HSBC Rankings – the global Eventing rankings – were launched in 2008, when HSBC became the global sponsor of FEI Eventing. The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2012/2013 Eventing season receives a 50,000 USD bonus. The current leader of the HSBC Rankings is Andrew Nicholson (NZ).

HSBC Training Bursary

As part of HSBC’s support of the HSBC FEI Classics Series, a Training Bursary is presented to the highest placed rider at each event never to have previously completed a 4-star level event. The training voucher is to the value of $1,000 and goes towards performance development with a trainer of the rider’s choice, approved by the FEI and National Federation. Winners of the HSBC Training Bursary are profiled in the HSBC FEI hub.

By Kate Green

Media Contacts:

At Malmö:

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Brilliant Jung Lines Germany Up for Double Gold

Michael Jung (GER) rides like a true champion across country at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in Malmö (SWE) to maintain his individual lead on Halunke FBW and keep Germany ahead in the team standings. (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 31 August 2013 – Michael Jung and the German team gave an outstanding display of Cross Country riding at the HSBC FEI European Championships to remain in gold medal position, as all four riders came home triumphantly clear and inside the optimum time.

The flamboyant Swedish quartet also made it look easy, flying through the direct routes with confidence, to the delight of an enthusiastic, flag-waving crowd clearly revelling in the spectacular sight of horses galloping alongside the beach at Malmö (SWE).

The home side matched the Germans round for round, adding a mere 0.4 of a penalty when Ludwig Svennerstal, still in individual bronze position on Shamwari 4, finished just one second over the optimum time of 10 minutes 30 seconds.

It was also a great day for the French and they have moved up a place to bronze medal position with four fast clear rounds. Former European Champion Nicolas Touzaint, riding the stallion Lesbos, is also within reach of an individual medal in seventh place.

The Olympic, World and European Champion Michael Jung (GER) was again flawless, riding an assured clear round on the inexperienced Halunke FBW, despite setting off in a torrential downpour. He now has two fences in hand over William Fox-Pitt (GBR) to win a second consecutive European title.

“My reins and saddle were wet and slippery, but the going was perfect,” said Jung. “I was a little bit behind the time at each minute marker but step by step I got closer. Halunke is a wonderful horse; he is not the fastest, but he takes big strides.”

It has been 20 years since Britain returned from a European Championships without a team medal, but they had a disastrous day. Pippa Funnell was battling with steering problems on Mirage d’Elle and eventually had a run-out at the downhill brush corner fence at 22b, and Lucy Wiegersma fell when Simon Porloe caught a leg over the boat at 8.

Kristina Cook was superb on Miners Frolic and is in ninth place, but the team is a distant sixth and Britain’s medal hopes now rest on anchorman Fox-Pitt, who gave a master-class of riding on the chestnut stallion Chilli Morning.

“When the bubble bursts, it can be hard to pick yourself up,” admitted Fox-Pitt. “I certainly felt sick for several hours before my round. Still, things could only get better. Chilli can be opinionated but he was magical today. He is an exceptional horse, a cool chap. I was very worried about the twists and turns because I was on a strong horse, but it rode very comfortably and that is the sign of a good track.”

Per Magnusson (SWE), Sport Director at Malmö, said: “I am very proud that we produced such good pictures for Swedish television. I think today will do a lot for the sport in this country.”

Dirk Schrade (GER), the first rider out on Rüdiger Schwarz’s (GER) much-praised track, gave everyone confidence when he produced an easy, neat clear on Hop and Skip. He took two long routes, avoiding the sharp turn out of the water to a corner (10b) and taking the circuitous route at 30, and still finished eight seconds inside the time.

Frida Andersen (SWE) got the host team off to a brilliant start on the home-bred Herta. She only took one long route, at fence 8, and finished an incredible 31 seconds inside the optimum time, despite the distraction of both her boots coming unzipped.

“She is a really fast horse,” said Andersen, who has been based at Warendorf in Germany with Frank and Sara Ostholt since April “It felt so easy that I smiled the whole way round.”

Andersen explained that she had ordered new boots but they were too small. “So I borrowed Sara’s, but I forgot to zip them up properly when I left the stables. I could feel them coming down by fence 3, but it didn’t bother me.”

Twenty of the 61 starters achieved the optimum time, there were 42 clear rounds and 52 completed.

Swiss team member Felix Vogg (Onfire) and Belgium’s Xavier Snackers (Ramses de Hurtebise Ewalco) both retired after two refusals; the Netherlands’ Althea Bleekman was eliminated after she fell from Ziomf at the keyhole fence at 12, and Ireland’s Joseph Murphy (Electric Cruise) was eliminated for failing to jump fence 27a when he re-routed after a run-out.

The Belarusian team was unfortunately eliminated after Viachaslau Poita fell with Dervish at the table at fence 16, and Aliaksandr Faminou was eliminated for three refusals on Ekstrakt.

Ludwig Svennerstal said the mood in the Swedish camp was one of elation. “We were under a lot of pressure on home ground, but this has been a great day for the sport and a great day for the sport in Sweden.”

Sweden looks to have a hard job to overhaul the German superstars tomorrow, but supporters can certainly go to bed happy tonight in anticipation of seeing their riders on the medal podium in what promises to be a thrilling finale. Jumping starts at 11.00 (CEST).

Full results on: http://malmoeventing.com.

Download the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships press kit: www.feipresskits.org.

Watch the action LIVE on FEI TV: www.feitv.org/live:
1 September – Jumping Part: 1 start time 10:55
1 September – Jumping Part: 2 start time 13:25

HSBC & Equestrian Sport

HSBC, the platinum partner of the FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the world’s largest events on the international Eventing circuit since 2008. These events include the:

  • HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 (Luhmühlen, Germany)
  • HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2013 (Malmö, Sweden)
  • HSBC FEI Classics Series, which unites the top end of the international Eventing circuit, and offers the biggest prize pot in the sport of Eventing on an annual basis.

For more information on HSBC and equestrian sport, go to the HSBC FEI hub here, where you can also access information on:

HSBC Rankings

The HSBC Rankings – the global Eventing rankings – were launched in 2008, when HSBC became the global sponsor of FEI Eventing. The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2012/2013 Eventing season receives a 50,000 USD bonus. The current leader of the HSBC Rankings is Andrew Nicholson (NZ).

HSBC Training Bursary

As part of HSBC’s support of the HSBC FEI Classics Series, a Training Bursary is presented to the highest placed rider at each event never to have previously completed a 4-star level event. The training voucher is to the value of $1,000 and goes towards performance development with a trainer of the rider’s choice, approved by the FEI and National Federation. Winners of the HSBC Training Bursary are profiled in the HSBC FEI hub.

By Kate Green

Media Contacts:

At Malmö:

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Unstoppable Jung Sets a New Standard

Defending champion Michael Jung is outstanding in the Dressage arena on the youngster Halunke FBW to establish a clear lead in the individual standings and keep Germany at the top of the team leader board. (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 30 August 2013 – Michael Jung (GER) was in a class of his own in the Dressage arena at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships at Malmö (SWE) today, effortlessly taking the lead on an outstanding mark of 28.8 with his exciting new team ride Halunke FBW.

The defending European Champion was awarded a 10 for his riding from Christian Landolt (SUI), the judge at B, and has a significant eight-penalty advantage over second-placed William Fox-Pitt (GBR).

Jung’s thrilling performance also helped the German team maintain their modest advantage over the host nation, Sweden. Great Britain is still in third place, with less than one Cross Country penalty covering the top three teams.

Halunke, a magnificent dark bay by Heraldik, is a superior mover to Jung’s Olympic, World and European Champion La Biosthetique Sam and is remarkably well established for a nine-year-old. In Jung’s sympathetic hands the gelding exuded quality, lightness and correctness in a test that was full of contrast.

“I am very happy,” said a beaming Jung afterwards. “Halunke is not experienced but he is a very good dressage horse with great movement. He’s been very relaxed and he gave me a good feeling. I think the important point to make, though, is that I’ve had the opportunity to concentrate on just one horse during our team training in Luhmühlen, and that has definitely helped.”

Britain’s experienced anchorman William Fox-Pitt scored several eights and a few nines, but paid the penalty for a missed final flying-change in an otherwise beautifully-presented test on the good-looking chestnut stallion Chilli Morning.

“The flying change was annoying because that’s one of his best movements, but he can also be anxious in walk and that went fine,” commented Fox-Pitt.

“Chilli is very handsome and he knows it. He’s quite a challenge because he can be boisterous and yet you need to be gentle with him. You have to humour him. But I very much enjoy riding him.”

There are seven stallions at Malmö, including Lesbos, lying seventh on 40.8 for French anchorman Nicolas Touzaint; and the youngest horse in the field, the seven-year-old Dervish ridden by Viachaslau Poita for Belarus’s first senior championship team.

Swedish supporters had plenty to cheer about with great performances from Ludwig Svennerstal (Shamwari 4), currently in third position on a personal best score of 37.6, and Sara Algotsson-Ostholt, who is equal fifth on her new team ride, the nine-year-old mare Reality 39.

“It’s amazing to be at a home championships,” said Olympic silver medallist Algotsson-Ostholt. “There’s no other place like it in Eventing.”

Good tests and personal bests came thick and fast on this second day of Dressage at Malmö.

Althea Bleekman (NED), the youngest competitor in the field, was overcome with emotion after scoring 53.2 on Ziomf. “It’s at least eight marks better than anything we’ve ever done before,” she said.

The 21-year-old, who is making her debut for her father’s country, the Netherlands, has the benefit of plenty of wise advice from her mother Clissy (nee Strachan), a member of Britain’s European gold medal team in 1977.

British individual Izzy Taylor was thrilled with 42.0 on the little mare KBIS Briarlands Matilda to hold equal ninth place with Niklas Lindback (SWE) and Mister Pooh. And Joseph Murphy gave the Irish team a great boost with a mark of 44.4 on the lovely Cruising-sired Electric Cruise. He is now in equal 14th with Italy’s Vittoria Panizzon on the popular grey mare Borough Pennyz.

Riders’ thoughts are swiftly turning to tomorrow and all are treating Rüdiger Schwarz’s impressive Cross Country course with its many turns and changes of pace with the utmost respect.

The action starts at 10am (CEST) tomorrow and, as today’s leader, Michael Jung anticipates: “The going is perfect and it should be a great day of sport.”

“I think it’s going to be very exciting,” agrees William Fox-Pitt. “You certainly need a horse that is good at following string! It’s far removed from what we’re used to, but that’s part of the fun and the challenge of the sport.”

And when asked whether Michael Jung is beatable, Fox-Pitt replied: “We’re certainly planning to make him work hard for it!”

Follow the action with live results here: www.rechenstelle.de/2013/malmo/live/leaderboard01.html & information: http://malmoeventing.com.

Download the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships press kit: www.feipresskits.org.

Watch the action LIVE on FEI TV: www.feitv.org/live:
31 August – Cross Country: start time 09:55
1 September – Jumping Part: 1 start time 10:55
1 September – Jumping Part: 2 start time 13:25

HSBC & Equestrian Sport

HSBC, the platinum partner of the FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the world’s largest events on the international Eventing circuit since 2008. These events include the:

HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 (Luhmühlen, Germany)

HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2013 (Malmö, Sweden)

HSBC FEI Classics Series, which unites the top end of the international Eventing circuit, and offers the biggest prize pot in the sport of Eventing on an annual basis.

For more information on HSBC and equestrian sport, go to the HSBC FEI hub here, where you can also access information on:

HSBC Rankings

The HSBC Rankings – the global Eventing rankings – were launched in 2008, when HSBC became the global sponsor of FEI Eventing. The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2012/2013 Eventing season receives a 50,000 USD bonus. The current leader of the HSBC Rankings is Andrew Nicholson (NZ).

HSBC Training Bursary

As part of HSBC’s support of the HSBC FEI Classics Series, a Training Bursary is presented to the highest placed rider at each event never to have previously completed a 4-star level event. The training voucher is to the value of $1,000 and goes towards performance development with a trainer of the rider’s choice, approved by the FEI and National Federation. Winners of the HSBC Training Bursary are profiled in the HSBC FEI hub.

By Kate Green

Media Contacts:

At Malmö:

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Klimke’s New Star Puts Germany at the Top

German team members Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada JS sweep into the lead after the first day of Dressage at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in Malmö (SWE). (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI).

Lausanne (SUI), 29 August 2013 – Germany’s title defence of the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships has got off to the best possible start with a typically brilliant performance from Ingrid Klimke, this time on a new young star, FRH Escada JS.

Klimke, who scored the only sub-40 mark on the first day of Dressage in Malmö (SWE), has produced an incredible transformation in the nine-year-old Hannoverian owned by Madeleine Winter-Schulze.

“When I first rode her last year she wouldn’t halt and she would paw the ground. We were often nearly last after Dressage. I didn’t know where to start,” laughed the vivacious Klimke.

“But I wanted to continue with the mare because she has so much potential and is very tough and brave. During last winter I took her to all the dressage shows and now she knows she has to listen. She has really taught me patience.”

Klimke has won three team gold medals on FRH Butts Abraxxas, her ride in the last six championships, but she may now have her best chance of an individual medal since capturing European bronze in 2005 on Sleep Late.

German pathfinder Dirk Schrade scored a satisfying 44.2 to lie in individual third place at this halfway stage of the Dressage. Germany also leads the team standings with a 4.4 penalty advantage over Sweden. Britain is in third place and Ireland is fourth.

Schrade said the 14-year-old British Sport Horse “was with me every second. We all know that he isn’t the most extraordinary mover, but riding him was a real pleasure today. I’m quite happy to go first – it means it’s all over early!”

The home crowd was thrilled when the first Swedish rider, Frida Andersen, who was making her senior team debut, scored 46.0 penalties on Herta and took individual fifth place.

Her team mate Niklas Lindback did even better with a smooth performance on the much-admired Mister Pooh to lie second to Klimke on 42.0.

“It’s always fun to be competing in Malmo, especially because it is near my home,” said Lindback, who has the confidence of having twice won a CIC3* on Mister Pooh at this venue and was clearly revelling in the high levels of local support.

Lucy Wiegersma, who was one of Britain’s most successful under-21 riders, has made no secret of her longing to be on a senior team and she made a stylish debut on the 13-year-old Simon Porloe. She is currently in fourth place on 45.2, and the mark would have been higher had the Polish warmblood not resisted in the rein-back, earning fours from all three Ground Jury members.

“I think it will be a whole different competition on Saturday [Cross-Country],” the 36-year-old said. “The course should suit my horse; he’s very well balanced and will come back to you easily. I didn’t expect to feel such pleasure in being in the team, nor to be so nervous. It’s a different experience to just riding for yourself, but it’s a great feeling.”

Britain’s first rider, Pippa Funnell, already has a gold medal in the family this summer, as her husband, William, was a member of Britain’s winning Jumping team in Henning (DEN) last week.

Currently in 10th place, Funnell admitted that the Selle Francais gelding Mirage d’Elle would never achieve the amazing scores recorded by her back-to-back European Champion Supreme Rock, but she was nonetheless delighted. “I’m really chuffed,” she said. “My aim today was to put in a solid team test. This horse is so difficult to maintain in a round shape. I love him dearly, but it’s like Russian roulette. The amount of warm-up time is always a gamble. If you overdo it, he starts to struggle and says ‘I really can’t do it any more mum’.”

Funnell was overjoyed to be back on the team for the first time in nine years. “It’s all about being with your friends and being part of it. It’s so special and I’ve missed it so much.”

Away from the Dressage arena, riders were taking Rϋdiger Schwarz’s Cross Country track very seriously. The German designer is the master of creating brilliant influential courses on compact sites and he has managed to eke out every possible twist and turn in this public park which is much prized by Malmö residents.

Spectacular pictures are assured, with the backdrop of blue sea, the striking landmark of the Turning Torso and the flowers and waterways of the park.

Riders, however, will be concentrating more on the many challenging accuracy tests, especially the big corner which follows a step out of the water at fence 10 and the major question at the end of the course at fence 30, where a big spread is followed by a skinny brush to a corner.

“If you are happy to take your time, then you could do it perfectly,” comments Dirk Schrade. “But if you want to go fast, then it will be tricky.”

Follow the action on http://malmoeventing.com.

Download the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships press kit: www.feipresskits.org.

Watch the action LIVE on FEI TV: www.feitv.org/live:
30 August – Dressage Part 3: start time 09.55
30 August – Dressage Part 4: start time 13.25
31 August – Cross Country: start time 09:55
1 September – Jumping Part: 1 start time 10:55
1 September – Jumping Part: 2 start time 13:25

HSBC & Equestrian Sport

HSBC, the platinum partner of the FEI and global sponsor of Eventing, has supported the world’s largest events on the international Eventing circuit since 2008. These events include the:

  • HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 (Luhmühlen, Germany)
  • HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2013 (Malmö, Sweden)
  • HSBC FEI Classics Series, which unites the top end of the international Eventing circuit, and offers the biggest prize pot in the sport of Eventing on an annual basis.

For more information on HSBC and equestrian sport, go to the HSBC FEI hub here, where you can also access information on:

HSBC Rankings

The HSBC Rankings – the global Eventing rankings – were launched in 2008, when HSBC became the global sponsor of FEI Eventing. The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2012/2013 Eventing season receives a 50,000 USD bonus. The current leader of the HSBC Rankings is Andrew Nicholson (NZ).

HSBC Training Bursary

As part of HSBC’s support of the HSBC FEI Classics Series, a Training Bursary is presented to the highest placed rider at each event never to have previously completed a 4-star level event. The training voucher is to the value of $1,000 and goes towards performance development with a trainer of the rider’s choice, approved by the FEI and National Federation. Winners of the HSBC Training Bursary are profiled in the HSBC FEI hub.

By Kate Green

Media Contacts:

At Malmö:

Lotta Amnestal
+46 709 795635
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45