Pony riders win Nations Cup for GB's Team NAF in Wierden

Sunday 30 May 2021

Pony riders win Nations Cup for GB's Team NAF in Wierden

The Dutch Youngster Festival at Wierden in the Netherlands drew to a close today, 30 May, after five days of jumping with the Pony Nations Cup being the final one contested.

Earlier this afternoon the GB Children’s team had won their own Nations Cup and then the Pony team, riding under the title sponsor banner of Team NAF, came out and did the double!  Winning with more than a fence in hand the team put in some superb performances with two of the team notably producing the sole double clears of the entire starting field.

It was Henry Squibb, aged 14 years from Brentwood in Essex, with the 13 year-old stallion Kilcurry Dawn owned by Emily Fenn that produced the first double clear of the inter-nation competition.  Their performance was foot perfect setting the team up from the start in an extremely good position to go forward with.  Next to go Poppy Deakin, aged 15 years from Dalton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne with the 11 year-old chestnut mare Armene du Costilg owned by Kerstin Deakin picked up an unfortunate 4 penalties in the first round before jumping a beautiful clear in the second.

Sophie Evans, aged 14 years from Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire with the 11 year-old bay stallion Oscar Van De Beekerheide owned by ESM Equestrian came forward as the 3rd rider.  An unlucky touch of a fence and just outside the time allowed, in what was otherwise two great rounds, saw them  pick up 5 penalties in each. Elissa Herrmann, aged 15 years from Winchester in Hampshire with the 11 year-old Dun gelding Lapislazuli produced an impressive clear in the first round and she entered the arena for the second time with considerable pressure on her shoulders to jump clear and guarantee GB the win.  Taking the pressure in her stride she broke the finish line clear within the time allowed having produced a precision ridden round to return home with zero penalties to add and to become the only other rider to produce a double clear.

It was a jubilant team that celebrated their win finishing on just 4 penalties ahead of nearest rivals Belgium who sat on 9 penalties in 2nd place.  Sweden took 3rd with a single time penalty being the decider whilst Germany took 4th with a huge gap between themselves and Sweden having finished with a tally of 33 penalties.

The chef d’Equipe for the Team was British Showjumping Youth Team manager Clare Whitaker who has been at the show with the youth riders for the duration along with the Junior & Young Rider Chef d’Equipe Tony Newberry.

For further information on the show and full results visit www.dutchyoungsterfestival.com 

British Showjumping would like to thank NAF, title sponsors of the Senior Nations Cup Teams along with the Pony, Children, Junior, Young Rider and Veteran teams.

NAF’s premium range of Five Star brands include Superflex, Superflex Senior, PROFEET, Optimum, Magic, Oestress and Respirator Boost with quality at the heart of everything they do. They are a UFAS (Universal Feed Assurance Scheme), GMP+ (International Feed Assurance Scheme) and BETA NOPS (Naturally Occuring Prohibited Substances) accredited company and this enables them to guarantee full traceability on all the natural ingredients they utilise in their formulations, which are also selected in compliance with the FEI guidelines for Clean Sport. For further information, visit www.naf-equine.eu/uk/index.jsp.

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.

 
Recent News Headlines
Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Board Directors Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Board Directors
28/03/2024
POYS PREVIEW 2024 POYS PREVIEW 2024
27/03/2024
Charlie Hancox from Worcestershire is February’s NAF Shining Star Charlie Hancox from Worcestershire is February’s NAF Shining Star
26/03/2024
British riders hit the heights in Spain with Grand Prix wins as siblings Ellen and Donald Whitaker dominate at two major shows British riders hit the heights in Spain with Grand Prix wins as siblings Ellen and Donald Whitaker dominate at two major shows
25/03/2024
New champions spring into action at the British Showjumping Spring Championships New champions spring into action at the British Showjumping Spring Championships
25/03/2024
view news archive »