INDIVIDUAL GOLD AND BRONZE FOR TEAM FAIRFAX
Sunday 27 July 2014
Today, the final day at the Children, Junior and Young Rider European Championships saw the British Team who compete as Team Fairfax add two Individual medals to their Junior Team Gold medal win of yesterday.
Children – Robert Murphy – Individual Gold
Robert Murphy, a member of the Children's team, aged just 13 years from Preston, Lancashire secured Individual Gold with Del Fuego, an 11 year-old bay gelding owned by Catherine Witt. His victory was incredibly hard fought after a four-way medal deciding jump off between ourselves, Italy and France who had two riders come forward.
Across the three days of competitions which count towards the Individual medal classification Robert's performance has been foot-perfect in addition to within the time allowed for each course jumped. Finishing on a zero penalty score and having led from the front on Day 1 he found himself in the company of three others whom had also managed to achieve the same. With only three medals on offer it meant a final timed jump off would be required to not only decide the final medal placings but also which one of the four was going to return home in the disappointing position of 4th.
Proving his incredible talent along with the tremendous partnership he has with Del Fuego, Robert was the only one of the four that managed to put in another clear. Returning home in a time of 46.66 seconds with all fences standing saw him relegate Italy’s Lorenzo Sciacca and Webster into Silver with their 5 penalties in a time of 48.61 seconds. Bronze went to Elisa Mellec of France with Renarde Rumel, who despite putting in the fastest time of 41.80 seconds lowered two fences knocking her out of frame of a top two finish. Her time however was enough to ensure a medal as Laura Klein for France also finished on a matching 8 penalties but in a slower time of 46.98 seconds.
Juniors – Jessica Mendoza – Individual Bronze
18 year-old Jessica Mendoza from Chippenham, Wiltshire put in some brilliant performances with Spirit T, a 13 year-old brown mare owned by her mother (Sarah) and John Roberts, across all qualifying Junior competitions. They played a pivotal role in delivering a Team Gold yesterday for Team Fairfax Juniors with their double clear in the role of anchor rider which saw them topping the league in joint first place at end of the day.
Coming forward for the Individual Final today, they both looked as fresh and eager to get on with the job in hand as they had at the start of the championships. With the course catching many out as a result of both its stature and technicality it proved no opposition to Jessica and Spirit T with them putting in yet another double clear within the time allowed to finish on a final score of 5.01 calculated from the first Individual qualifier, a speed competition.
Gold went to Norwegian rider Amalie Hegre and Remedy with their score of 1.13 whilst Silver was awarded to Thomas Gilles of Belgium with Conaro who finished on a score of 4.66.
Jessica, who was a prolific rider on ponies winning Team Gold medals at Pony European Championships moved onto horses permanently last year and has had considerable success since at both Junior, Young Rider and Senior International level. Adding a Bronze medal to her already existing medal haul from previous years she currently sits in 2nd place on the Fairfax Top GBR Young Rider list hot on the tail of current leader Chloe Aston from Tring, aged 21 years.
The British Youth teams are sponsored by Fairfax Saddles. It is Fairfax’s primary aim to improve the performance of the competition horse. All the saddles and girths are developed using the most advanced technology and are tested extensively. All research and design work is carried out under the direction of Vanessa Fairfax, an ex-International showjumper and University qualified designer. The company is based in Walsall and manufactures all its own products. For more information, please visit www.fairfaxsaddles.com.
The GB Showjumping Teams are strongly supported by the UK Sport Lottery funded BEF World Class Programme. The teams are further supported by Animo UK, Champion Hats, Next and Toggi.
For further information on the Championships and results, please visit www.arezzoequestriancentre.com.
.jpg "Thrilling Weekend Kickstarts the STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Second Round")
