For the first time in decades, a team from Norway competed at the FEI European Championships. The team of Hans Bauer (Præstegårdens Leopold), Heidi Bratlie Larsen (Euforian) and Ellen Kristina Hynne (Rom Tikka) was coached by the Finnish rider Piia Pantsu-Jonsson, world bronze medallist in 2002 and, although only Hans and Heidi completed the Championship, it was a great learning experience for the Norwegian riders
Heidi, who works as a building designer as well as pursuing a career in eventing, spent time in the UK with Chris Burton earlier this year and competed at Chatsworth and Houghton Hall in preparation for the European Championships. After a very promising eighth place at Chatsworth on Euforian, she was slightly disappointed with their final 40th place at Strzegom but they scored a personal best in the dressage, had fun on the cross country and a ‘quite nice show jumping round’
With her first major Championship under her belt, Heidi is looking forward to the next one!
Heidi Bratlie Larsen
