TEAM FAIRFAX CHILDREN FINISH 5TH IN TEAMS BUT LEAD WAY IN FIGHT FOR INDIVIDUALS
Saturday 26 July 2014
The GB Children’s team competing under the Team Fairfax banner and under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Clare Whitaker finished in 5th place today at their respective European Championships in Arezzo. An incredibly impressive performance bearing in mind that they were fielding a three strong team as a result of Scarlett Charles, aged 13 from Alton, Hampshire having to retire from competition after Day 1 as a result Olga White’s 14 year-old bay mare Murka’s Cherona Z having incurred a minor injury.
Having finished on 5 penalties after the first day of competition on Friday, the team put in incredible performances today with all three riders jumping clear and within the time allowed. Jodie Hall McAterr aged 14 from Borehamwood, Herts took the role of pathfinder for the team with her mothers (Mandy) 12 year-old chestnut mare Vichy.
Will Edwards, aged 14 from Ellesmere, Shropshire with R Candy, a 10 year-old chesnut mare jointly owned by Carl Edwards and Jane Lanni were the middle man for the team with Robert Murphy aged 13 from Preston, Lancashire with Del Fuego, an 11 year-old bay gelding owned by Catherine Witt taking the role of anchorman. Roberts performance has been outstanding where he has jumped clear across the three days of jumping so far and putting him in joint 1st position on the league table which culminates in Individual medals being fought for tomorrow. Jodie sits on just one penalty behind him in joint 20th position with Will on 4 penalties in joint 24th.
Victory went to Austria who triumped with a zero penalty score, just one penalty ahead of Belgium who took Silver. Germany and France had to jump off for the Bronze medal, with Germany just edging France off the podium when they incurred 4 penalties in the jump off.
Tomorrow will see the final competition for the Children take place and the Individual medals decided. For further information please visit www.arezzoequestriancentre.com
The British Showjumping youth teams are sponsored by Fairfax Saddles. 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 for results once the competition is underway, please visitwww.arezzoequestriancentre.com.
Image: Robert Murphy - in joint 1st on Individual League Table after Team Final