Team LeMieux Ponies win European Team Gold on Home Soil
Friday 10 August 2018
This afternoon saw the British Pony Team, competing as Team LeMieux, take the Team Gold at the Pony European Championships at Bishop Burton, Great Britain.
The Brits came into today’s team competition in a strong position after two riders returned home with clears whilst the other three combinations collected 4 penalties each. This left GB sat in equal fourth with Germany, just behind the Netherlands in third on 2 penalties and France and Ireland in joint first on 0 penalties. The first round today shook up with the leaderboard with just seven riders able to produce a clear and three of those clears came from the British camp, a result which left GB in pole position ahead of the second round getting underway. This was a position that the Brits were to retain.
Today’s trailblazer was 15 year-old Shaunie Greig from Aberdeen and she was on board Casino Royale, a 15 year-old bay gelding owned by Anne Greig. Shaunie and Casino Royale brought 4 penalties forward to today’s team competition after having an unlucky pole at the final fence, but they proved to be the perfect pathfinders for Great Britain this afternoon when they secured an immaculate double clear.
Claudia Moore, aged 13, from Brentwood, Essex was next into the arena for Great Britain with Elando van de Roshoeve, a 14 year-old bay gelding owned by Katrina Moore. Yesterday, this combination delivered a foot perfect round to return home with a clear in the bag and they emulated this in the first round of the team competition this afternoon. An unfortunate pole down in the second round saw this pair return home with 4 penalties.
It was Perdita Digby, aged 15, from Dorchester, Dorset that was the third rider in and she piloted Kayleighs Star, a 13 year-old coloured mare owned by Lady Sophie Digby. Perdita picked up 4 penalties yesterday and it was an 8 penalty finish in round one of the team competition and a 4 penalty finish in round two.
The anchor for the British team was Nicole Lockhead Anderson, aged 16, from Banchory, Aberdeenshire with Gangnam Style II, a 9 year-old bay gelding owned by Claire Lockhead. Nicole got her campaign off to a great start yesterday when she provided the fastest clear round of the day. She then produced yet another clear in her first round and came into her second round knowing that the Gold medal already belonged to Great Britain. Nicole and Gangnam Style II took the course in their stride and secured another clear round, which leaves them in equal first individually.
Joining her teammates on the podium was Hannah Barker, aged 13, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire with Ammanvalley Santino, a 14 year-old dark bay gelding owned by Lynn Barker. Hannah, who jumped in today’s competition as an Individual, carried 8 penalties into this afternoon after picking up 4 penalties apiece in her two earlier rounds. She then came back into the arena for third time determined to deliver a clear and duly achieved this after a fantastic accurate round.
Great Britain took Gold on 8 penalties ahead of Sweden and France who took the Silver and Bronze medals respectively. The Chef d’Equipe accompanying the squad was Clare Whitaker.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s Individual Final, Nicole Lockhead Anderson sits in joint 1st with Claudia Moore and Shaunie Greig in equal 5th, Hannah Barker in equal 11th and Perdita Digby in 23rd.
For further information on the show and full results, visit www.bishopburtonponyeuros2018.co.uk.
British Showjumping would like to thank LeMieux, title sponsors of the Pony teams.
LeMieux is now established as the leading manufacturer of saddle pads in the UK and one of the fastest growing equestrian brands in Europe. The latest range of jumping pads has been developed with Scott Brash to precisely fit the cut of modern jumping saddles. The LeMieux product offering for horses extends beyond saddle pads to boots, bandages, fly hoods, headcollars and rugs - widely available through most good retailers or online at www.horsehealth.co.uk.
The GBR showjumping teams are supported by the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Programme, funded by UK Sport through the National Lottery. The Programme focuses on identifying talent, developing potential and maximising medal-winning performances on the world stage.
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