Category Archives: Strzegom

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Show Jumping, Strzegom

Eventing Gold for Great Britain and Germany

Jasmine Underwood and Indian Girl G. Photographer: Leszek Wójcik

The final trials of show jumping at the FEI Eventing European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Strzegom were action-packed, and seconds decided on the podium places. Great Britain scored gold both in the team and individual classification in the young rider category, and Germany went double gold in the junior category.

Young Riders

Four seconds over the time in the showjumping took away the leading position from Lisa Gualtieri riding A D’Aunis, and the French had to settle for silver with 26,7.

The gold, after a clear round, went to Great Britain’s Jasmine Underwood riding Indian Girl G – 26,4, and the bronze to her teammate Isabelle Cook with Mexican Law – 27,5. These results helped the British team win the team classification, advancing from third after the cross-country – 93,3. Darcy Zander with My Eastwood Brightside and Joshua Levett riding This Ones On You also stood at the highest step of the podium.

“It was a very challenging weekend, but I wouldn’t have been able to win if it wasn’t for my wonderful horse. I am proud that we can work together,” said Jasmine Underwood right after the win.

The team silver went to France: Lucas Brun with Anapurna De Soulac, Valentin Quittet Eslan with Casanova D’ems, Alizee Bourgue with Cesar Des Hauts Crets, and Lisa Gualtieri with A D’aunis – 94,9.

Germany finished with the bronze medal, with 98,2: Zoe Deusing and Alemania, Isabel Kristin Dalecki with Caruso Jh, Emely Kurbel and Entertain You, and the best one on the team – Mathies Rüder with Bon Ton.

Polish riders Zuzanna Borkowska with Gracja, Katarzyna Brandys with Sel Oscar, and Weronika Król riding Chinuk R with a score of 227.2 penalty points took the fifth place among the 10 competing teams. The last was the highest-ranked home athlete – 11th position, the final result being 35,0.

Juniors

It was Germany who went all clear on the showjumping course – a thing that the Irish, who were in the lead after the cross-country, failed to achieve. The Germans are the new European team champions with 91,1.

Hannah Busch with Crystal-Annabell went up from fourth place after the XC to the first step of the podium – 27.7.

“I felt a lot of pressure before today’s performance, but I tried to relax, calm down, and enjoy the competition with my horse, because this is a special event for me. I couldn’t have done it without my wonderful team, whose support I can always count on,” said the new European champion. Her teammates were Mathis Huisinga and Carlotta, Pita Schmid and Favorita V, and Matti Garlichs and Ludwig 282.

The individual silver went to Irishman Tom Nestor with Cooley Diamond Dancer – 29,9. The rider was in the lead after the second trial, suffered a knockdown and 0,4 for time, and had to say goodbye to his dreams about the gold medal.

Mae Rinaldi from France took home the bronze riding Kirwan – 30,2. A clear jumping round made them advance from 7th overnight.

The team silver medalists are the Irish: Matthew Love and DSL Allegra, Oleana Cowan and Rca Royal Mist, Alex Connors riding Ols King Aragon, and the best of the team: Tom Nestor and Cooley Diamond Dancer – 94.9.

Team bronze went to Great Britain: Coco Lanni and Porsche, Martha Hall and Kbis Starburst, Araminta Spencer-Churchill with Neds Legacy, and Pippa Royle riding My Dream HJ – 100.4.

The home nation of Poland finished in 6th out of 13 competing teams. The best result on the team belongs to Karolina Miś with Go Jack – with a double clear on the XC and jumping, she placed 6th individually with 31,6.

Online results: https://results.strzegomhorsetrials.pl/event.php?event=29#CHEUYT

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Strzegom

France and Ireland Lead the FEI Eventing European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders

Lisa Gualtieri and A D’aunis. Photographer: Mariusz Chmieliński.

The cross-country trial introduced a considerable reshuffling of the leaderboard at the European Young Riders and Juniors Eventing Championships held in Strzegom.

The French broke the dominance of the British and after successful cross-country rounds become the new leaders in the young rider category. France is represented by: Lucas Brun and Anapurna De Soulac, Valentin Quittet Eslan and Casanova D’ems, and riders who went clear: Alizee Bourgue and Cesar Des Hauts Crets, and Lisa Gualtieri with A D’aunis, who also takes the lead in the individual classification – 25.1.

The leader after dressage, British Jasmine Underwood riding Indian Girl G, crossed the finish line with a seven-second overtime, which dropped her to second place – 26.4. Her compatriot Isabelle Cook with Mexican Law jumped up into third place after a clear run – 27.5.

In the team standings, second place belongs to Germans: Isabel Kristin Dalecki and Caruso Jh, Mathies Rüder and Bon Ton, Emely Kurbel and Entertain You, and the best in the team, Zoe Deusing and Alemania – 90.2. The Brits sit in third: Darcy Zander and My Eastwood Brightside, Isabelle Cook and Mexican Law, and Jasmine Underwood with Indian Girl G – 92.5.

After the cross-country, the home nation of Poland is currently in seventh place – 218.8. The best result in the team belongs to Weronika Król with Chinuk R – 35.0. Clear on the fences, although late by nine seconds, she made her advance from 24th place after dressage to 16th. Zuzanna Borkowska with Gracja, who were the highest ranked of the team after the first trial, were less lucky. Adding 75 penalty points for mistakes on obstacles and exceeding the time allowed, she ranks 39th – 105.9.

In the junior category, the lead in the competition belongs to the Irish – 85.7: Matthew Love and DSL Allegra, as well as three riders with clear XC rounds: Oleana Cowan and RCA Royal Mist, Alex Connors and Ols King Aragon, and the best in the team and first in the individual classification – Tom Nestor and Cooley Diamond Dancer – 25.5. The same score belongs to France’s Rachel Weiler with Riviero – 25.5, and third is Germany’s Ella Krueger with Koenigsblauer – 27.3.

The Germans are moving up to second place: Mathis Huisinga and Carlotta, Pita Schmid and Favorita V, Matti Garlichs and Ludwig 282, and Hannah Busch and Crystal-Annabell – 91.1.

Third place belongs to the British, whose entire team, Coco Lanni and Porsche, Martha Hall and Kbis Starburst, Araminta Spencer-Churchill and Neds Legacy, and Pippa Royle and My Dream H, went clear and brought their dressage score to the finish line – 95.2.

The Polish team lies in fourth with 106,4. Karolina Miś with Go Jack went double clear and went up to 11th with 31,6.

On Sunday, showjumping trials will be held to determine the new medalists of the FEI Eventing European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors.

Online results: https://results.strzegomhorsetrials.pl/event.php?event=29#CHEUYT

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Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

Danish Rider Victorious in the 4*S In Strzegom

Marie Juul and Ikke 2. Photographer: Mariusz Chmieliński

Marie Juul won the 4*-S class, the highest ranked competition during the summer equestrian tournament in Eventing – Strzegom Summer Tour.

The representative of Denmark, riding Ikke 2, took an early lead after the dressage test. With penalty points for one knockdown and exceeding the time allowed in the jumping trial, she dropped down to fifth position. She scored a clear on the fences in the cross-country, with 6 overtime points, and with a final score of 44.3, was ultimately the winner of the class. Second place went to Germany’s Johanna Marloh with Crazy Carlotta – 46.3, and third to Swede Henrik Adnervik riding Zam F – 48.6.

The podium of the “three stars” belonged to women. The best one of them was Dutch representative Willemina Van Der Goes-Petter with Lancelot – 30.2. The runner-up after the dressage test went double clear in the showjumping and cross-country. Second place went to Filippa Wagtmann from Denmark with Follow Me Palija AA – 31.5, and third to Sweden’s Aria Ramkali with Flanders – 35.3. The highest ranked Polish rider in this competition was Julia Gillmaier, who took sixth place with Red Dream Princes – 43.3.

After his clear rounds in the showjumping and cross-country, the winner of the 2*S was Hungary’s Imre Tóth with Hakuna Matata – 28.1, ahead of Austria’s Lea Siegl riding Dark Gambler – 28.2 and the Dutch Willemina Van Der Goes-Petter with Nicolai – 29. Poland’s Halszka Witkowska-Nowak with Apollo took fourth place – 29.8. In the junior category, the best was Czech Andrea Novotna riding Eldorado – 35.6. Second place went to Zuzanna Spolowicz and Dżaurus AA – 36.7, and third Ema Stepankova from the Czech Republic and Anisio – 42.6.

Victory in the Intro class went to Germany’s Katharina Schedel riding Debbi – 27.1. Home athlete Jan Kaminski was second with Madryt – 31.6, and his compatriot Katarzyna Skrzypczak with Moccarabia took third – 31.9.

The Strzegom Summer Tour held four international short format competitions, three national classes, and the National Youth Olympics Final. 260 horses representing 14 countries took part.

The next big equestrian event in Strzegom, the FEI European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders, kicks off on August 22.

On-line results: https://results.strzegomhorsetrials.pl/event.php?event=28

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Championships, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Eventing to Be Held in Poland

Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński

The European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in the Eventing discipline will be held from 22 to 25 August at the hippodrome in Morawa near Strzegom.

The competition will begin on Tuesday, 20 August, with an opening ceremony attended by all qualified teams. On Thursday and Friday, the athletes will present themselves in the dressage test, on Saturday they will compete in cross-country, and on Sunday it is time for show jumping.

The riders will compete for the titles of European champions in two categories: juniors – from 14 to 18 years of age, and young riders – from 16 to 21 years.

“Despite their young age, the athletes will have to demonstrate great experience in all aspects of horsemanship, as well as excellent knowledge of their horses’ capabilities. Their rivalry will be a true showcase of this demanding and spectacular sport,” says Marcin Konarski, organiser of the event.

Additional CCIU254*-S and CCIJ1*-Intro competitions aimed at the younger and older youth age groups will be held alongside. These will allow the riders who may be joining the ranks of their national teams in the following years to acclimate to the atmosphere of a championship-level event.

This will be the seventh European Championship event organised by LKS Stragona Sports Club. The first one was held in 2012 in the junior category, then in 2015 – for young riders, in 2017 – for seniors, and in 2019, 2021, and 2022 – for pony riders.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

Strzegom Horse Trials: Showtime!

Photo: Mariusz Chmieliński

Over 280 horses, outstanding riders, including the current Olympic champion, and an exciting fight for the FEI Eventing Nations Cup and Polish Championship medals: the LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials start on 20 June in Morawa.

Over the four days of the tournament, riders from 25 countries will face each other in 10 classes of varying difficulty – including the FEI Eventing Nations Cup, the highest-ranked competition in Poland. The series took off in March in Italy; the fifth leg of the series will be decided in Strzegom. Additionally, juniors and young riders will compete for the titles of new Polish champions.

The hippodrome in Morawa will once again host many stars of the sport, including the current Olympic champion from Tokyo and world vice-champion, Germany’s Julia Krajewski; the six-time Olympic medallist Andrew Hoy from Australia; Olympic team champion Frank Ostholt from Germany; and Dutchman Tim Lips, team bronze medalist of the World Equestrian Games. We will also have the chance to see the leading Polish equestrians, including the whole podium of last year’s Polish Championships: Julia Gillmaier, Pawel Warszawski, and Mateusz Kiempa.

The competition at the arenas in Morawa will not only focus on podium placings. For some riders and horses, it will also be a fight for the final nominations to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris. And for the competitors in the youth categories, it will be an important stage of preparation for the FEI Eventing European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors, which will be held in Strzegom in August.

In addition to the sporting programme, the audiences will be treated to spectacular performances by stuntmen who will showcase their jigitovka skills – a trick riding style which originated in the Caucasus – as well as dog agility shows and performances by Eventing star athletes in non-sporting shows.

The competition will take place from 20 to 23 June at the hippodrome in Morawa near Strzegom in Lower Silesia. Admission to the competition is free.

Entries: https://www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl/images/2024/01/LSHT_ENTRIES_CCI_2024.pdf

Timetable: https://www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl/images/2024/01/TIMETABLE_SHT_14.06.2024.pdf

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

The Fifth Leg of the Nations Cup in Eventing Takes Place in June in Strzegom

Photo: Leszek Wójcik

The competition for the Nations Cup in equestrian triathlon and medals of the Polish championships will take place in June at the hippodrome in Morawa during LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials.

The FEI Eventing Nations Cup competition season kicked off in May in Montelibretti, Italy. The race for valuable points features eight legs held in Europe. The fifth one will be decided in Strzegom. In Poland, it will be the highest-ranked eventing competition, i.e. the equestrian triathlon in which the riders compete in three trials: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.

In addition to the Nations Cup, the sports programme includes as many as ten international classes with a difficulty level of one to four stars, including competitions for all youth categories. The event will also feature a battle for medals of the Polish Young Riders and Junior Championships. It will also be the last chance to check out the form of the Polish representatives, whom we will soon see at the Olympic Games in Paris.

There is more to fight for than the podium placings alone. For some pairs, the event will be the last chance to obtain the minimum qualification requirements for participation in the Olympic Games in Paris. And for many riders in the junior categories, it will be an important stage of preparation for the European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Eventing, which will be held in Strzegom in August.

“In Strzegom, we are in for more than just a sporting spectacle. We are planning many attractions for the public, and the cross-country route has been designed so that the spectators will have the chance to witness incredible sporting emotions at their fingertips,” says Marcin Konarski, chairman of the organising committee.

The programme includes, among other things, performances of stuntmen who will showcase their voltaic skills in a demonstration of the jigit, which originated in the Caucasus, and a dog agility show.

The competition will take place from 20 to 23 June at the hippodrome in Morawa near Strzegom in Lower Silesia. Entry to the competition is free of charge.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

Belgian Rider Victorious in Four-Star Class in Strzegom

Tine Magnus won the 4*-S class, the highest ranked one at the season-opening Strzegom Spring Open event.

The Belgian rider, riding Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z, was 11th after the dressage and jumped up into fourth thanks to a clear showjumping round. She crossed the cross-country finish line six seconds late, with no mistakes on the obstacles, and won the competition with a total of 35 penalty points.

With a loss of only 0.2 penalties to the winner, the second place went to Christoph Wahler riding D’Accord FRH – 35.2. The final placing of the German representative was determined by his dressage score. The rider scored a clear in the jumping and rode the cross-country course in exactly the same time as Tine Magnus.

Runner-up after two trials, Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Ostholt on Dynamite Jack, with cross-country time penalties, was third on the podium with 37.

The best one in the 3*S was Calvin Böckmann from Germany with Altair de la Cense – 29.4. He took the lead after the jumping and secured with a clear inside the time in the cross-country. Second place went to Malin Asai with Maggan V – 35.4. The Swedish combination was 22nd after dressage and jumped up into second after a double clear in the jumping and cross-country trials. Third place, only 0,1 behind Asai, was taken by Australia’s Andrew Hoy with Vassily de Lassos – 35.5. The best Pole of the class was Paweł Warszawski riding the Polish-bred Hatteria II, finishing 5th with 36.6.

In the 2* class, Germany’s Sophie Leube was unbeatable, taking the two first places. With Isselhook’s Asaro she won after clear jumping and XC rounds – 26.2, and with Heda she was second with 26.4. Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier with Quintus rounded up the Top Three with 27.9.

In the 1* Intro, the win belonged to Lara de Liedekerke-Meier with Jungle Drum 3 – 27.9, followed by Germany’s Juliane Barth with Can’t Stop Caspar – 30.8 and Polish athlete Halszka Wiktowska-Nowak with Apollo – 32.2.

In the national CNC100 class, the best one was Dutch athlete Tim Lips with Quiwi – 27.5, in the CNC100-18, Polish rider Julia Rohde with Kingston – 29.1., and in the CNC80, Daria Kobiernik from Poland with Las Vegas – 30.8.

The Strzegom Spring Open kick-started the season of international eventing competitions in Poland. Four international classes in short format and three national ones were held. Almost 320 horse-and-rider combinations representing 19 countries took part.

The next edition of the Strzegom Spring Open will take place in two weeks, from 18 to 21 April.

Online results: https://livejumping.com/ap/event/10006/competitions

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

Swede Victorious in the Four-Star Competition in Strzegom

Christoffer Forsberg with Hippo’s Sapporo. Photo: Mariusz Chmieliński

Christoffer Forsberg with Hippo’s Sapporo wins the CCI4*-L class, the most demanding competition at Strzegom October Festival.

Christoffer Forsberg was third after dressage, went double clear in the cross-country and showjumping, and won the with a score of 30.5 penalty points. Belgian Julien Despontin jumped up into second with Clever Man Waf after a faultless parkour with a mere two-second delay – 34.9. Third place was taken by Australian Andrew Hoy riding Cadet De Beliard – 37.3. The leader of the competition after two trials, New Zealander Clarke Johnstone with Aces High, had three knockdowns, and with a score of 39.3 finished just behind the podium, in fourth place. The only Polish pair taking part in the competition, current Polish champions Julia Gillmaier and Red Dream Princes, were in 10th position after dressage, and a good cross-country performance only with time faults ensured their promotion to seventh. Unfortunately, two knockdowns and overtime resulted with a final score of 64.3 penalty points and placed the pair in ninth place.

The first place on the podium in the 4*-S competition went to Sara Algotsson Ostholt riding Dynamite Jack – 33.9. The representative of Sweden was fourth after the dressage and took the lead after a clear cross-country round. With a significant advantage in points over her rivals, not even one knockdown in the jumping arena threatened her position. Second place went to French rider Maxime Livio with Enjoy De Keroue – 35.6, and third to German representative Katharina Meyer with Aspen T – 40.9.

Sara Algotsson Ostholt was also the best in the CCI3*L riding Dinathia – 30.3. They went up one notch after each trial, starting from third place after dressage. Second and third places were taken by the German representatives: Jan Matthias with Peppermint Patty Frh – 30.3, and Jerome Robine with Avatar – 31.7.

The final showdown in the CCI3*S kept the spectators in suspense until the end. The leader, Germany’s Michael Jung with Palm Beach, had one knockdown and the penalty points added to his score equaled that of the runner-up, Julia Krajewski with Ero De Cantraie, who rode a faultless round. As a result, the riders finished the competition with the same score – 30.1. The final classification was determined by the penalty points from the dressage test, during which Michael Jung was better, and ultimately, he became the winner. Third place went to the Czech Republic’s Eliška Orctová with Kirea – 30.5.

First place in the CCI2*L, after faultless cross-country and jumping, went to Switzerland’s Eveline Bodenmüller with Dark Gambler – 26.7, ahead of Germany’s Emma Hartmann with Baloucor – 27 and Ann-Catrin Bierleinwithn Come On Lotti – 30.2.

The best rider in the CCI2*S, after a double clear, was Germany’s Pia Leuwer riding Cascada – 32, the second went to her compatriot Nicoletta Massmann with CARLSON – 35.1, and third to Danish rider Anne-Dorthe Möller with First Class Gs – 35.2.

The 1*-Intro class ended with the victory of Pole Mateusz Pabijanek riding Tango 310 – 30.6. Dutchman Dennis Huits with Perseverance Luxery from Second Life Z was second – 30.6, and Germany’s Amelie Reisacher on Tissot finish third – 31.8.

European Youth Eventing Masters

In the European Youth Eventing Masters tournament, only the German team took part in the young rider category. In the individual classification the best score belonged to Linn Klümper with Candyman 145 – 30.8, second went to Emma Wiedenhöft with Naughty Girl 5 – 34.2, and third to Amelie Reisacher with Quintus 155 – 40.4.

The junior competition ended with the win for the team from Belgium – 110.6, consisting of: Lise Matton and Kenzo Van ‘T Farsenhoven, Clarisse Walbrecq and Fussac De La Quairelle, Anais Van Vaerenbergh I Marion Van De Perelaar, and Max Thual QC and Rock and Roll. Second place went to Germany with 115.9 and third to Poland with 118.3.

In the individual classification, the winner was Andrea Novotna from the Czech Republic riding Eldorado – 30.4, before Neel Friedrich Dehn (GER) with Better Luck – 31.9, and Polish rider Laura Gillmaier with Ding Dong – 34.

In the pony rivalry, Germany’s Hannah Pfitzmann and Mary Poppins P, Nell Röming and Majestro, Pita Schmid with Sietlands Catrina. and Anni Müller riding Nightys Flashlight were unbeatable with 126.6. Second place on the podium went to the Netherlands with 132.9 and third to Belgium with 152.2.

Individually, the first place went to German rider Pia Sophie Schreiber with Motsi Mabuse – 33.4, Julie Geurts from Belgium was second with Kinou Des Marronniers – 35.9, and Thilde Holm Nielsen from Denmark topped off the podium with Karlshoejgaard’s Monique – 36.5.

The national class CNC100 ended with a win for Austrian Harald Ambros with Mogli 45 – 31.6, in the under 18-year-old category, the best rider was Dominika Mączyńska (POL) with Avenido – 30.4, and in the CNC90, the first place went to Patrycja Pastuszek (POL) with Monaco – 26.1.

Online results: https://livejumping.com/ap/event/9191/competitions

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*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

Strzegom Autumn Show: Equestrian Tournament with a Star Lineup

Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński

11 classes, including the Polish Championships and the International Young Horses Competition. Outstanding athletes, and for the youngest, the Hobby Horse competition – Strzegom Autumn Show starts this weekend.

The autumn equestrian tournament returns to the Stragona calendar after a five-year break. The hippodrome in Morawa will host riders from 22 countries, with more than 240 horses. Four international classes in the short format, three competitions for young horses, and four national classes will be played out. The battle for the medals of the Polish Championships will also be decided.

The entry list includes some of the world’s best eventers, including the German multi-medalist Michael Jung – the double Olympic champion, world champion, and European Champion; Australia’s Andrew Hoy – the two-time gold medalist of the Olympic Games; Felix Vogg from Switzerland – the silver medalist of the world championships for young horses; Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa – the double gold medalist of the Asian Games; as well as the defending Polish champion – Mateusz Kiempa.

During the International Young Horses Competition, we will see youngsters aged from 5 to 9. “I think this event will be an excellent opportunity to present young horses at the international arena, and for some it may be the last chance to qualify for the World Championships for Young Horses, which will be held in Lion d’Angers, France,” says Marcin Konarski, the show organizer.

The accompanying event will be the Hobby Horse Eventing competition, which will be held on Sunday. This an up-and-coming new sport, in which athletes compete on “horses” built from a wooden pole with a horse’s head with reins, a bridle, and other equipment imitating that used by riders. The rules of competition are inspired by the regulations of equestrian competitions. The hippodrome will feature a dressage arena, a cross-country course with wooden obstacles specially designed for Hobby Horse, and a parkour with jumping fences.

The Strzegom Autumn Show competition starts on September 15. On Friday, dressage trials will be held, and on Saturday and Sunday several arenas will be the playgrounds for both jumping and cross-country trials.

Admission to the competition and parking are free.

Contact:
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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Strzegom

Dutch Edge Closer to Olympic Qualification with Eventing Nations Cup Win

Janneke Boonzaaijer (BEL) rides ACSI Chanp de Tailleur. FEI – Libby Law

A demanding cross-country test shook up the order at the fourth leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ which took place at Strzegom (POL). Strong performances in this phase meant that The Netherlands walked away as the worthy winners. Despite having one rider eliminated on the cross-country, the Dutch finished on a final score of 133.8 with their other three riders finishing inside the top ten riders. Team USA were runners-up on 142.8, whilst Belgium finished in third on 166.1 penalties. Nine teams came forward to compete including host nation Poland who did not have such a happy time with none of their three riders completing the competition.

Dutch Chef d’Equipe Andrew Heffernen was delighted with the result. “These guys performed so well. It was a really tough competition and it was really refreshing to see such a strong and forward thinking and demanding cross-country course. It also gave us good pictures. There were no nasty falls or moments and that was really good for the sport. These guys performed fantastic and that is why we won. I am very proud.”

The Germans led the first phase with the Dutch team in third after the dressage, but this would certainly not prove to be a dressage competition. Germany slipped to eighth after the cross-country course designed by Marcin Konarski took its toll on so many combinations. Konarski has been designing international courses at Strzegom for 20 years and his accolades include World Cup Finals and Senior European Championships. The venue is famed for its technicality and big bold jumping efforts and this year was no exception. “This year’s course has a lot of technical questions. There are also a couple of very bold jumps where the horses have to show a lot of bravery,” he said.

Experienced Dutch rider Merel Blom-Hulsman, who has been a mainstay of the Dutch team for over a decade, summed up the challenge: “It was hard to get this win. It was a difficult course with a lot of technical questions and big jumps in between so I think we all really had to push to the end, so it was quite a difficult challenge.”

The Dutch team lost their fourth member Stephen Hazeleger, who was one of 13 athletes to come to grief on the cross-country. Fortunately, their other three team members achieved fast and clear cross-country rounds to put them well ahead of the rest of the field going into the final phase. Although they had a 25-penalty margin ahead of USA in second, the pressure was still on with all three athletes’ scores to count in the jumping phase, who held onto their nerves as well as first place.

There was further pressure on the result this year, as the Series takes on extra significance as the last chance to earn a single Team slot to Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Five of the nations competing are not yet qualified, including The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Austria. The FEI Eventing European Championship at Pin du Haras (FRA) this August and the 2023 Pan American Games at Santiago (CHI) in October will provide further chances for nations to qualify.

Like many other nations who are not yet qualified, the Dutch selected a more experienced team on good horses. Their sole objective this season is Olympic Qualification, explains Blom-Hulsman. “There is not a bigger motivator than Paris. We stand up every morning just pushing for Paris and we will keep pushing until we are there, for sure.”

Heffernen reinforced this notion: “We have two Nations Cup competitions coming up in the next few weeks, one in France and one in Switzerland, and of course there is the European Championships, so we are concentrating on those three competitions now, so hopefully we can repeat this performance.”

The FEI Eventing Nations Cup will now move to Haras de Jardy (FRA) which runs from 13-16 July. The Belgians lead the Series at this halfway stage, with a total of 350 points, whilst the Dutch now move up to second with 285 points. The Series concludes in Boekelo (NED) from 4-8 October, where the final team place for the Paris Olympics will be allocated to the highest placed nations not already qualified.

FULL RESULTS

by Eleanore Kelly

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