Great Britain command victory in the Pony Nations Cup of Compiegne
Friday 19 April 2024
1svujitxhxur8.jpg "Great Britain command victory in the Pony Nations Cup of Compiegne")
Great Britain returned victorious in the first of the season’s FEI Nations Cup Youth competitions in Compiegne, France, with a resounding zero score.
Eight teams came forward to face French course-designer Cedric Longis’ 12-fence 1.30m track with Switzerland taking an early lead in the first half of round one. Britain’s young team was fielding three team debutantes. Pathfinder Hollie Gerken made only one error with the 12-year-old Argento daughter Galaxy V to post four faults, but Sophia Rogers countered this with a magnificent clear aboard the Otangelo 12-year-old Neil 55.
Switzerland sat on a zero score at this stage, but their final two riders returned four and two faults while Cate Kerr on the 17-year-old Cindy and anchor rider Aimee Paxton, with the 14-year-old stallion Las Vegas, remained foot-perfect. At the halfway stage, Britain stood at the top of the leaderboard, but with only two faults ahead of Switzerland and Ireland in third on seven faults, the pressure was on.
Drawn last in round two, the team knew exactly what was required and they dismissed the compounded pressure to bag the top spot on the podium. First off Hollie again came home on four faults but the other three maintained their form to supply three solid clear rounds to win on a zero score.
Switzerland added four faults to their two-fault score to total six for second place with Ireland taking third on a total of 15 faults.
“They are all team first timers, and they rode and coped very well, I’m very pleased. It is looking promising for the European Championships later this year with a depth of choice,” said British Chef d’Equipe Clare Whitaker.
FEI Pony Nations Cup – Compiegne, France
Friday, 19 April 2024
1 - Great Britain 0
Hollie Gerkin & Galaxy V – 4/4
Sophia Rogers & Neil 55 – 0/0
Cate Kerr & Cindy – 0/0
Aimee Paxton & Las Vegas – 0/0
2 - Switzerland 6
3 - Ireland 15
https://results.worldsporttiming.com/event/187
Image credit: Cecile Sablayrolles / Grand Prix Group
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