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2014 FEI EUROPEAN PONY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 0 Report

 

Dressage & Jumping Vet & Measurement Checks

 

Opening Ceremony

 

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Dressage Vet & Measurement Checks

All ponies are measured to ensure that they are indeed ponies - although to allow for show excitement and shoes, the FEI rules state that they can measure up to 151cm at the event.  The dressage pony measurement started at 8am, followed by their vet inspection and trot up at 1pm. 

 

The trot up was not without drama, with a number of ponies having to trot twice and some then being sent to the holding pen for re-inspection.  In the end, the Ground Jury were still not happy with 2 of the German ponies and they have been held over for re-inspection first thing in the morning.

 

 

The British pony dressage team consists of:

 

Phoebe Peters (16) from Morton in Marsh, Gloucestershire with Tracy Peters’ 12 year old gelding SL Lucci (Lukas x Bazar).  The 2013 double individual gold medallists and silver medal (Kur) in 2014 as well as being part of the Bronze (2013) and Silver (2014) medal winning teams, Phoebe and Lucci are the ones to beat and have had some outstanding scored already in 2015.

 

Rebecca Bell (15) from Faringdon, Oxon with Caroline Bell’s 12 year old mare Valido’s Sunshine (Valido x Marieton's Jasper).  Initially reserves in 2013 then the last minute substitutes, Rebecca was an obvious choice for the 2014 team and achieved a personal best in the team test.  So with the experience of Bronze and Silver team medals, Rebecca & Sunny are core team members who are also currently 12th in the FEI Youth Dressage World Ranking List (Pony).

 

Clare Hole (13) and Maisie Scruton’s SPSS Elite graded black stallion Rembrandt DDH (Renoir x Viktoria's Chirac).  Although Clare is also new to the team, SPSS Elite graded stallion, Rembrandt, has already represented both the Netherlands (winning Team Silver in 2009 and Team Gold in 2010) and GB where, ridden by his owner, Maisie Scruton, he was the top scoring team pony in 2011 and key contributors to the team score in 2012.  Ridden by Clare since early 2014, they have competed in 4 internationals and are currently ranked 16th in the FEI Youth Dressage World Ranking List (Pony)

 

Isobel Berrington (15) and Penelope Berrington’s 19 year old dark brown gelding DHI Langar (Lukas x Downland Folklore).  Langar has also won team medals before: Bronze in 2003 (ridden by Natanlie Allen), 2005 (ridden Portia Manning) and also competed at the 2006 Championships ridden by Natasha Leak.  Isy has been riding Langar since 2012 and they have competed at 9 internationals together.

 

The ones to beat?  As always, the Germans and Dutch teams are strong (assuming that all the German riders get through the vet inspection!), as are the Danes.  Although Phoebe's key rival for the last 2 years (and double gold medal winner last year), Semmieke Rothenberger (GER) elected to move up to Juniors a year early must be viewed as serious challengers.

 

 

Isobel Berrington & DHI Langar

 

After the inspections, all teams had some time in the dressage competition arena for familiarisation.

 

The dressage team competition starts at 12 noon on Wednesday and concludes on Thursday morning.

 

Clare Hole & SPSS Elite Rembrandt DDH

 

Rebecca Bell & Valido's Sunshine

 

Phoebe Peters & SL Lucci

 

Rebecca Bell & Valido's Sunshine

 

   

Jumping Vet & Measurement Checks

The vet check drama continued when the jumping ponies were  required to trot up for their Ground Jury.  Once again a number of ponies had to trot up twice and some of these, were told to represent the next day - including GB's 18 year old British-bred Aroldo (ridden by Scarlett Charles).  Hopefully, the GB support team can get him fully fit for the 7am representation slot and the Ground Jury will be happy to let him start the compeition on Thursday.  The other 4 GB Jumping ponies passed both the vet and measurement checks.  All jumping ponies get the opportunity for practise in the competition arena comes on the first official day of competition, ie Wednesday.

 

The British squad are in alphabetic order by rider, the combinations selected are:

Charlotte Ash, aged 16 from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with her mother Shirley’s 11 year-old bay gelding Aughnashammer (breeding unknown).  Charlotte and Aughnashammer were members of the 4th placed British team in 2014 and placed 12th individually

 

Scarlett Charles, aged 14 from Alton, Hampshire with her father Peter’s 18 year-old grey gelding Aroldo (Verdi x unknown).  British-bred Aroldo competed in 2014 with Scarlett's older brother Harry and, as well as being in the 4th placed British team, they also placed 5th individually.  Previously, Aroldo competed in the 2010 Pony Euros  ridden by Emily Roe and in 2006 he was a member of Gold medal winning team with Emily's sister Rebecca.

 

Jessica Hewitt, aged 16 from Pontefract, West Yorkshire with Lynn Barker’s 11 year-old British-bred dark bay gelding Ammanvalley Santino (Cruglwyd Sant x unknown).  British-bred Ammanvalley Santino & Alex Gill competed at the 2013 Pony Euros as individuals and then in 2014 as members of the British Team. 

 

Jodie Hall McAteer, aged 15 from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire with Tixylix (Cavalier x Lauriston), a 17 year-old chestnut mare owned by Sarah Mendoza.  Tixylix, winner of Team & Individual Gold with Zoe Adams in 2007 and regular team member with Jessica Mendoza from 2010 to 2012 (winning Team Gold in 2011 & 2012 and Individual Bronze in 2011), has been competed by Jodie since late 2012.

 

Jack Whitaker, aged 13 from Whatton, Nottinghamshire with his father Michael’s 9 year-old chestnut mare Zodianne van de Doevenbree.   NRPS (Zodiac x Khadiboj van Klaverborch).  Dutch-bred and NRPS registered Zodianne and Jack have been competing internationally since April 2014.

With Jodie, Jack & Charlotte were part of the winning nations Cup team in Hagen in June and Scarlett & Jessica being on experienced ponies, this team has a considerable amount of experience to draw on.  Four of them will form the team and the other will compete as an individual (assuming that Aroldo does pass the re-inspection).

 

Charlotte Ash & Aughnashammer

 

The Ground Jury inspect Ammanvalley Santino

 

 

 

 

   

From left:  Jack Whitaker's ride, Zodianne van de Doevenbree; Aroldo & Scarlett Charles; Jodie Hall Mcateer's ride Tixylix

 

 

Opening Ceremony Report

 

 

The opening ceremony consisted of a parade of competitors from their hotel to the Malmo City Hall followed by a brief speech by the Mayor and then all the riders plus a guest each were invited to a party in the Hall.

 

Pictured on the right are the welcoming party on the steps of the City Hall, while below are their colleagues leading the competitors into the City Square and the GB dressage riders listening to the Mayor's welcoming speech.

  

Photos by www.qorum-photos.com

 

The Sports Pony Studbook Society

Studbook Office:   The Last House, Keysoe Row West, Keysoe, Bedfordshire MK44 2JJ

Tel: 07703 566066    Email: 

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