European Jumping Team win Gold at Youth Olympic Games

The European Jumping Team have today won Gold at the first Youth Olympic Games Equestrian Competition in Singapore after an exhilarating jump-off which saw Australasia take Silver and Africa the Bronze.
 

The European team, which consisted of Nicola Philippaerts (Belgium), Carian Scudamore (Great Britain), Valentina Isoardi (Italy), Wojciech Dahlke (Poland) and Martin Fuchs (Switzerland), produced three exceptional rounds to take the title.
 

Lying in joint first place with Australasia and Africa after the first round on Wednesday, it looked as though Europe would clinch Gold when Nicola began his ride in the second jumping round but a fault on the last fence ensured the jump-off against the clock to decide the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, after all three teams were tied in first place with a total eight faults over the two rounds of the competition.
 

Martin and Wojciech lead the way in the jump-off, both producing clear rounds, before Valentina, finished her round on 24 faults. Carian was next to jump and after producing clear rounds in the earlier competition rounds, lowered a single pole to finish the jump-off on four faults.
 

Following Carian’s round it was clear that the Australasian and African teams would be unable to beat the European time, which meant that Nicola was not required to jump again.
 

Carian commented on the result; “It still hasn’t sunk in properly yet that we’ve won Team Gold.  I can’t describe the way I’m feeling right now other than to say it’s just the best feeling and I feel so fortunate to have had the chance to come out here and represent Great Britain.  
 

“When we went in as a team for the medal presentations it was so emotional. The medal is absolutely awesome, it weighs a ton when it’s round your neck and is something that I’m going to cherish for the rest of my life”.
 

Chef d’equipe for the European Team and Coach of Carian, Corinne Bracken commented on the result; “The team were absolutely fantastic, working together exceptionally well, all of them knowing what they had to do and then delivering it. 
 

“There isn’t one thing I would change and I feel honoured to have had the opportunity of working alongside them. To bring home a medal is something we hoped for, to have achieved it really is the greatest feeling in the world”.
 

World Class Performance Director, Will Connell said “This result demonstrates the young talent that exists in showjumping in Europe. I am thrilled Carian was such an intricate part of the result and look forward to seeing her on GBR Teams in the future”.
 

1^st           Europe                                

2^nd          Australasia                        

3^rd           Africa                                   

4^th           Asia                                                      

5^th           South America                                 

6^th           North America & C. Islands                        

 

For further information about the Youth Olympic Games visit the British Olympic Authorities website at www.olympics.org.uk/youthgames or follow the FEI Youth Olympic Blog at http://feiyoutholympics.blogspot.com .