With at least one medal in each discipline, Netherlands clearly dominated these European Pony Championships 2012 thanks to talented riders such as Sanne Vos (gold and silver medal in dressage) and Lisa Nooren (silver in show jumping). But with two individual medallists in show jumping and the victory of its team, Great Britain showed her supremacy, with 14 titles in 18 years under Katherine Moore's coaching.
The Euro Poney drew the attention of a large public, with more than 7,000 persons on Saturday (cross country day) and 5,000 on Sunday for the finals, for a total of more than 15,000 people during the whole week. This edition was a huge success, as well for the delegations than for the public. André Bonneau's team will be back next year in April for its traditional CSIOP which belongs to the most important pony show in Europe.
Individual Championships: Millie Allen sing the right song
Before this final, Millie was the only one to have a completely clear score. The winner of CSIOP of Fontainebleau Grand Prix in April already knew the ground and it seemed to be a formality for her pony Song Girl to jump over the big fences of this last rounds. With fences 1,35m tall in the first round, and 1,40m in the second one, the course designer had chosen to adapt his plans to the « high quality ponies and riders participating to this championship » said Jean-Claude Quque, the course designer. Millie Allen (GBR) did another clear round in the first one, but many riders occurred penalties that changed the physiognomy of the ranking. With a clear round too, Lisa Nooren (NED), one of the best and strongest pony rider this season, had a real chance of medal. A last clear with only one time penalty point let her hope to be back home with one. And that what's she did, putting the pressure on Millie who had the only possibility to put 1 fence down and have some delay time. The two girls kept their heads and won the gold and silver medals. But two combinations had to go to a last jump off for the bronze medal: Alex Chitty (GBR) and Emilie Paillot (SUI). It's finally Alex who brought the last medal back home with another clear.
Results
Individual show jumping ranking: http://europoney2012.com/gb/pdf/result/cso/clt_fin_res.pdf
Strong Irish team finally gets the eventing gold!
After having been European vice-champion in 2011, Irish eventing team achieves its goal. « We have worked a lot this winter, mostly dressage and show jumping » explains Susan Shortt, the chef d'equipe. These efforts allowed to take advantage since the beginning with a good dressage and to resist until the end facing British squad that was good enough to trouble. Over 21 years of European Pony Championships, Ireland never wins the gold by team and less the individual. That's not with only one medal but three that Irish riders come back to home. Cathal Daniels (IRL) with Master Murrose (pictured below) wins gold while his team mate Ana O'Brien (bottom photo) hardly gets the bronze medal associated to Ice Cool Bailey for 0,7pt ahead of the best French rider Carla Lefaure for whom it was the last year riding ponies.
Two photos above: © PSV J. Morel
Results
Individual Eventing Championships: http://europoney2012.com/pdf/result/complet/ep_ch_eu_cso_res.pdf
Team Eventing Championships: http://europoney2012.com/pdf/result/complet/ep_ch_eu_equip_res.pdf
Louisa Nesbitt flys the British Flag and picks up a silver medal - Photo: © PSV J. Morel
Another gold medal for Semmieke Rothenberger (GER)
Judges had to chose today again between Sanne Vos (NED) and Semmieke Rothenberger (GER). After a thrilling win “by a nose” in the Classic Championship on Saturday, Sanne Vos had some pressure on her shoulders on this last day of competition. And the judges too, as Raphaël Saleh (FRA), member of the jury said. “It has been hard to find some differences between these two champions, but we had to award the gold and silver medals”. Semmieke Rothenberger (GER) finally won gold with her beautiful and dancing pony Golden Girl, letting Sanne Vos (NED) with the silver medal. Rosalie Bos (NED) received another medal, bronze this time, as a reward for her work with her very young and quite inexperienced partner, Paso Double.
Results
Freestyle in music Championships: http://europoney2012.com/pdf/result/dressage/ep_ch_eu_cp_fin_ind_res.pdf
More than 150,000 people watched the different classes during this week, on www.europoney2012.com and www.dailymotion.com/europoney.
Report and photos courtesy Pixizone.com
