BRITS RETAIN THEIR STRONG POSITION AT THE END OF DAY TWO AT THE FEI EUROPEAN JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thursday 15 September 2011

BRITS RETAIN THEIR STRONG POSITION AT THE END OF DAY TWO AT THE FEI EUROPEAN JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS

This evening saw the completion of day two at the European Championships in Madrid (14-17th September).
 
The British team of Ben Maher, Nick Skelton, Guy Williams and John Whitaker were faced with not only the blistering Spanish heat but also a strong field of 16 nations and 67 riders. Today’s competition built at 1.60m was the second round from a total of five the team will be asked to compete through till Sunday.   Today, was the second of the competitions that count towards the team final which takes place tomorrow and the individual final which culminates on Sunday.
 
With every penalty being crucial for both the team and individual medals on offer along with the assurance of Olympic qualification for those Nations that haven’t already qualified, competition at the European Championships is always fiercely strong and this year is no exception.
 
Yesterday saw Great Britain secure themselves into fifth place on the team leaderboard with Nick Skelton on Beverley Widdowson’s ten year old grey gelding Carlo being the highest placed Brit in 8th place on the Individual standings. 
 
It was Nick Skelton who was the first to tackle the testing 1.60m course for Great Britain. With only two clear rounds having gone across the thirty four competitors before him Nick produced a fantastic and faultless round in a style that the commentators described as ‘being a joy to watch’ and an absolute ‘craftsman of a ride’. Nick, when asked about Carlo’s superb two days of jumping commented “Carlo’s been jumping brilliantly for me and is really on form. It’s a difficult course, the last line takes a lot of jumping but I couldn’t be more pleased with him and I just hope we can keep jumping clear rounds”.
 
Guy Williams with his own Titus II, an eleven year old bay gelding that only started competing at International level at the end of last year lowered three fences meaning they became the drop score for the team.
 
Next to go was Ben Maher with Quainton Stud’s and his own nine year old black stallion Tripple X III, another horse only introduced to International competition during the past two months. Just landing slightly short at the open water meant the combination incurred just four faults moving the team up into fourth place at this point in the competition.
 
Last to go was John Whitaker with Rebecca Stone’s fourteen year old bay stallion Peppermill. Mirroring Ben’s round, the combination left all jumps standing but a foot in the water meant four faults being registered. Their performance was enough to keep Great Britain in fourth place on the leaderboard securing their inclusion in the final team competition tomorrow which will see the top ten teams coming forward to fight for their place on the medal winning podium
 
As Individuals, Great Britain have moved up the leaderboard towards the final on Sunday when the Individual Medals will be decided. Nick Skelton has moved up into third place behind Germany and Ireland. Ben Maher and John Whitaker have also risen substantially into 15th and 22nd place respectively. With the leading twenty five riders after tomorrows round coming forward on Sunday for the final day of competition Great Britain are one of the few nations with three riders appearing so high on the ranking list.
 
Talking straight after the competition Rob Hoekstra, Team Manager and Chef d’Equipe, commented “The horses are jumping well, they’re operating well and we’ve just been a bit unlucky with the water but then again so have many. If we can keep this formula going then we’re in with a chance. Lots of things can happen in the last day of competition especially when people are riding under extreme pressure. We’re fighting to be on the podium, we’re close to it and if we carry on like this then it’s definitely possible”
 
Great Britain’s reserve rider Scott Brash competing in the additional international classes secured second place in a field of 40 riders   With Elizabeth McTaggarts ten year old bay gelding Bon Ami they put in very fast clear in the 1.45m speed class, but coming in just a second behind Italian rider Emanuele Gaudiano with Cocoshynsky slotted them into second position.
 
Team GBR are supported by the World Class Programme, which is generously supported by Lottery and Exchequer funding via UK Sport. The Programme incorporates both the Development and Performance Programmes and the Equine Pathway, and works closely with the three BEF Olympic Member Bodies, British Dressage, British Eventing and British Showjumping.
 
Team Standings:
1st    - Netherlands   - 7.42 penalties
2nd   - Germany       - 10.41 penalties
3rd    -  France        - 15.95 penalties
4th    - Great Britain - 17.46 penalties
          Nick Skelton / Carlo (0 faults)
          Guy Williams / Titus (12faults)
          Ben Maher / Tripple X III (4 faults)
          John Whitaker / Peppermill (4 faults)
 
 
Individual Standings
1st Carsten-Otto Nagel / Germany (0.69)
2nd Billy Twomey / Ireland (0.95)
3rd Nick Skelton / Great Britain (1.04)
15th Ben Maher / Great Britain (6.76)
16th John Whitaker / Great Britain (9.66)
 
All the news and behind the scenes views in the run up to and during the European Championships can be found on both the British Showjumping and Equestrian Team GBR’s websites nearer the time.  Visit www.britishshowjumping.co.uk and www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk for more details.
 

 
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