Great Britain’s Young Riders delve deep to secure second place in the FEI Young Riders Nations Cup of Zduchovice
Saturday 27 April 2024
.jpg "Great Britain’s Young Riders delve deep to secure second place in the FEI Young Riders Nations Cup of Zduchovice")
The British team of Young Riders dug deep to take second place in the FEI Young Riders Nations Cup of Zduchovice in the Czech Republic, holding their nerve in round two to move up the order.
Six teams came forward over the 12-fence 1.45m track with the host country Czech Republic storming ahead in round one to lead the way at the halfway stage on an impressive zero score. Britain stood in fourth place on 12 faults.
Nevertheless, the four British riders came back fighting to steadily move up the line. Francesca Young, on four faults first time out, again made just one mistake on Emma Young’s Ustinov nine-year-old gelding Carrickview Libretto.
Glain Watkin Jones had a round she’d rather forget in round one but she put the 24 faults behind her and made the second round a new start, dismissing any pressure to guide Iona Watkin Jones’ Dakar VDL eight-year-old La Vie Est D’Or into a superb clear round.
On a clear round first time, Tallulah McKenzie Smith came home on four faults in round two with Hugo McKenzie Smith’s 13-year-old Non Stop daughter Nistria V/D Winning Z with Britain now standing in third place above Denmark. And when Germany’s final rider finished on four faults, they dropped down the line. Britain’s fate lay in anchor Connie Adams’ hands.
Connie and Claire Adams’ Jagger, a VDL Zirocco Blue x Indoctro 10-year-old, had returned a score of eight faults in round one. But Connie dug deep and Jagger responded to her every call, leaving every obstacle intact to post a magnificent clear to shouts of joy from her British team-mates.
Britain edged up to second place on a total of 16 faults, 1.45 seconds ahead of Denmark, also on 16. The Czech Republic remained at the top throughout the class, deservedly celebrating their four fault score without the need for their final rider.
Chef d’Equipe Clare Whitaker was impressed with the team’s fortitude – “The girls were really good and came back fighting in the second round, it was great team spirit!”
FEI Young Rider Nations Cup of Zduchovice, Czech Republic
Friday, 26 April 2024
1st Czech Republic 4
2nd Great Britain 16
Francesca Young & Carrickview Libretto – 4/4
Glain Watkin Jones & La Vie Est D’Or – 24/0
Tallulah McKenzie Smith & Nistria V/D Winning Z – 0/4
Connie Adams & Jagger – 8/0
3rd Denmark 16
Image: Jan Vlcek / equifo.cz
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