ABIGAIL NEWBERY TAKES BRONZE MEDAL IN THE JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

The consistent performance of Abigail Newbery for Great Britain’s Team Animo at the Children, Junior & Young Rider Championships at Magna Racino, Austria saw her take the Bronze medal in the Individual European Championships earlier today. 

 

Partnering Valentino VII, a 10 year-old grey gelding jointly owned Sharifa Al-Homazi and her father Tony Newbery, they were just one of three competitors that managed to leave all the fences up across the five rounds of competition during the past few days.   However, an unfortunate time penalty accrued in both the first and fifth round mean they carried 2 penalties, and it was these time penalties that ultimately decided the medal positions.

 

Gold was taken by Germany’s Maurice Tebbel and Cooper 75 who had produced five clear rounds within the time allowed; the only rider to do so.   Just ahead of Abigail was Camille Delaveau from France with Lothian des Hayettes who finished on their single time penalty incurred in the first round. This single point was enough to relegate Abigail to Bronze medal position.

 

When you consider there were in excess of 100 starters contesting the three medals on offer, this just shows the technicality of the courses through the championships that only three riders in total were able to consistently jump clear. This alone illustrates the tremendous  achievement by Abby to secure her place on the podium.

 

Talking afterwards British Showjumping Chef d’equipe and Team Coach Corinne Bracken commented “To jump five clear rounds at a championship is an outstanding performance, even I will forgive her the two time penalties. Going into the last round Abigail had to jump clear to stay in medal contention and this is exactly what she did. A very cool customer under pressure and an extremely deserving win”.

 

The championships continue at Magna Racino, and further information and full results can be found by visiting www.em-magnaracino.at.

 

The British Showjumping Teams are strongly supported by the UK Sport Lottery funded BEF World Class Programme and further sponsored by Animo UK