Eventing Team winners Team Winners from Germany; Chef d'equipe Fritz Lutter, Calvin Böckmann,Libussa Lubbeke, Johanna Schulze Thier,Anna Lena Schaaf Photo Sanne Kolind
The Danish National Equestrian Centre, Vilhelmsborg was pleased to welcome the best ponies in Europe from around 22 different nationalities, to compete at FEI European Championship for Ponies sponsored by Equsana from 17th -21st August 2016
There is no doubt that Vilhelmsborg was exited to welcome one of this year's most spectacular events on Danish grounds when hosting the FEI European Championships for Ponies in the three disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. With huge support from the municipality of Aarhus, Vilhelmsborg is fully equipped to welcome the many international riders and their ponies.
Three Spectacular Arenas
Vilhelmsborg have made use of a total of 50 hectares of land, to create the three arenas for the championships. The jumping and dressage arenas were pre-established but both have been upgraded and are now ready for both the audience and participants. The eventing course is a total of 3.8 km long and built by the Swedish course designer Lars Christensson and Team Jørgensen from Kalundborg.
The dressage arena was located in the beautiful settings of the courtyard surrounded by the stables. The jumping arena was the main arena, here there were plenty of life in the shape of 30 different stands and a catering area.
Everything can Happen in Eventing
The Eventing riders had their first ride in the team competition when 25 riders and their ponies performed their dressage test on Thursday. The second half of the team competition was finished Friday with the remaining 25 riders. After the dressage test the Germans put themselves in a very strong position as their first three riders were placed 1st, 2nd and 4th.
The British riders ranked second all performing with great intensity - they had with them a dedicated team of supporters who had dressed up in Union Jacks and were cheering on the side at every test. The Belgians placed in third after the Dressage. Saturday saw the Eventers head out on the cross country course, with Germany’s Calvin Böckmann with Askaban B keeping his place in the lead of the competition on his dressage score of 38.3. In second position were Anna Lena Shaaf with Pearl 98, also from Germany on 41.4, and third was Great Britain’s Saffron Cresswell with Cuffesgrange Little Ric on 44.10. All three had a great round around the new and stunning cross country track, showing off high speed and well prepared ponies. The track was difficult but also highly technical, which was a huge challenge to many besides the top three riders.
In the Team competition there were eight teams competing, and after the cross country Germany held the leading position, once again showing great power and strength with their young pony riders who were performing their absolute best, France moved up into second and Great Britain in third, with Belgium moving out of their bronze position after dressage after some riders finding the cross country challenging. But much could still happen, when the riders were to hit the show jumping arena on Sunday morning.
On Sunday the eventing riders took to the large show jumping arena for the final day of the European Championships competition. Both the individual as well as team medals were given away, and also here Germany showed their strength winning both competitions. In the team Germany were clear leaders with a difference of almost 20 penalties between them and Great Britain who placed second. France took home the bronze. In the individual competition Anna Lena Schaaff and Pearl 98 jumped a clear round to take Gold, finishing on her dressage score of 41.4 and overtaking fellow teammate Calvin Böckmann and Askaban B, who had a very unexpected and expensive stop at one of the first fences on the course, moving them down to silver on a final score of 43.3. The bronze-medal was given to the Belgian rider, Jarno Verwimp and the 6-year-old pony Edition Limitee Dew Drop who jumped a clear round, moving them up from fifth place after cross country to finish on their dressage score of 44.3. A costly fence down meant Great Britain’s Saffron Cresswell, third after cross country, moved out of the medals to finish in fifth.
A very surprised and touched Anna Lena Schaaf said after the medal ceremony: “I am very pleased and it is yet quite unbelievable. I think I won’t realize what just happened before I get back home.”
Article by Tonya Bille Nielsen
FEI European Pony Eventing Team Championship: GOLD – Germany 135.60: Pearl 98 (Anna Lena Schaaf), Askaban B (Calvin Böckmann), Nadeem 2 (Libussa Lübbeke), Mondeo 34 (Johanna Schulze Rhier). SILVER – Great Britain 153.70: Cuffesgrange Little Ric (Saffron Cresswell), Drop the Subjekt (Anya Kolleth), Alfie (Eloise Carter), Sycamore Lad (Molly Meg Faulkner). BRONZE – France 161.90: Podeenagh Aluinn (Melissa Prevost), Olympe des Bois (Alban Moulliere), Risketou Maneti (Camilla Lucas), Tohing Song d’Aven (Quetin Gonzales).
FEI European Pony Eventing Individual Championship: GOLD – Germany: Pearl 98 (Anna Lena Schaaf) 41.40. SILVER – Askaban B (Calvin Böckmann) 43.40. BRONZE – Edition Limitee Dew Drop (Jarno Verwimp) 44.30.
Individual Winner Eventing from Germany, Anna Lena Schaaf Photo Sanne Kolind
