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Thaïs Méheust, who died tragically from injuries sustained in a cross-country fall during the French National Championships for Young Horses in Haras du Pin (FRA) on Saturday 7 September, was one of France’s rising stars on the international Eventing circuit.
The 22-year-old had already flown the French flag with huge success, competing in eight FEI Eventing European Championships in the Pony, Junior, and Young Rider categories. She earned five team medals, including gold at the FEI Eventing Young Riders European Championships 2016 in Montelibretti (ITA) and again on home soil in Fontainebleau 2018, her final year in Young Riders.
Soon after becoming French Junior Champion in 2017, she moved her top mount, the 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding Quamilha, up to three-star level to finish fifth in the CIC at Le Pouget (FRA) in November that year.
In May of this year, she made her FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ team debut at Houghton Hall (GBR) along with compatriots Cyrielle Lefevre, Francois Lemiere and Thomas Piejos.
In an interview with FEI.org last year, Thaïs Méheust said that her dream was to represent France at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
She was drawn to Eventing at a young age after watching her older siblings compete. She was based at her family’s Ecurie de Cerisier Blue stables in the small village of Cailly-sur-Eure, where she trained a string of four to five horses while also attending law school at the University of Rouen.
“The news of Thaïs’ tragic death has come as a great shock to us all,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.
“We had the opportunity to get to know Thaïs when she participated in the Youth Panel which we hand-picked for the Sports Forum in 2018, representing not only the discipline of Eventing and France, but the next generation of equestrian athletes worldwide.
“Each of the panelists were selected for their experience and their commitment to the sport and all of us at the FEI were truly impressed by Thaïs’ passion, her maturity and her enthusiasm. She was a tremendous ambassador for the sport, really committed and willing to work hard to achieve her goals. The global equestrian community has lost a shining light and our hearts go out to all who knew her."
The FEI extends its deepest sympathy to Thaïs Méheust’s parents, her family and wide circle of friends and to the French National Federation (FFE).
The FFE tribute to Thaïs Méheust can be read here.
The FEI has announced new adverse analytical findings (AAF) involving equine prohibited substances. The cases involve *Banned Substances under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).
The three athletes and, in the third case, also the trainer have been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horses have been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.
Horse: Captain Future 3 (FEI ID 104OK61/AUT)
Person Responsible: Felix Koller (FEI ID 10067976/AUT)
Event: CSIO5*- NC EUD1 - St.Gallen (SUI), 30.05-02.06.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Diisopropylamine
Date of Notification: 7 August 2019
Horse: Gelo Delle Schiave (FEI ID 104RW65/ITA)
Person Responsible: Pierluigi Sangiorgi (FEI ID 10025969/ITA)
Event: CDI-W – Lipica (SLO), 24-26.05.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Aripiprazole
Date of Notification: 27 August 2019
Horse: Feline X (FEI ID 106LV53/GBR)
Person Responsible: Pane Singh Amar Singh (FEI ID 10048234/UAE)
Trainer: Fadhl Manea Saleh Al Mathil (FEI ID 10110945/UAE)
Event: CEI1* 80 - Euston Park (GBR), 16.06.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Atenolol
Date of Notification: 26 August 2019
Details on these cases can be found here.
Separately, the FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decisions in one case involving a Prohibited Substance and one horse abuse case.
The Prohibited Substance case involved athlete Saeed Mohd Khalifa Al Mehairi (FEI ID: 10082209/UAE), who competed with the horse Shaddad (FEI ID: 103BW28/UAE) at the CEI3* 160 in Euston Park (GBR), on 13 July 2018. Samples taken from the horse tested positive for the Banned Substance Testosterone. The athlete and the trainer Ismail Mohd (UAE, FEI ID: 10017691) were suspended for two years. The period of provisional suspension, effective from 8 August 2018 for the athlete and from 13 August 2018 for the trainer, has been credited against the period of ineligibility imposed in this decision. Therefore, the athlete will be ineligible until 7 August 2020 and the trainer until 12 August 2020.
Additionally, the athlete and trainer have each been fined CHF 7,500 and ordered to pay costs of CHF 2,500 each. The athlete/horse combination was disqualified from the event.
The Final Decision on this case can be found here.
The horse abuse case, which was opened by the FEI, followed a protest filed by the South African Equestrian Federation (RSA NF) involving the pony Sherwill Valerian. It was alleged that the athlete, Joris Vanspringel (FEI ID: 10004575/BEL), had committed horse abuse during a clinic he held at Fourways Riding Centre in South Africa. In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal ruled that the athlete had committed horse abuse and suspended him for nine months from the date of the Final Decision (15 August 2019). He was also fined CHF 3,000 and ordered to pay CHF 3,000 towards legal costs.
The Final Decision on this case can be found here.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decisions (15 August 2019).
Notes to Editors:
FEI Equine Prohibited Substances
The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are those that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.
In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a **Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
**Specified Substances
The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances (i.e. whether Banned or Controlled). Rather, they are simply substances which are more likely to have been ingested by horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance. Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations.
The FEI has today announced the named qualifiers for the next three seasons of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League.
Following a very competitive bidding and evaluation process, the FEI has allocated the eight qualifiers of this prestigious league in the USA, Canada and Mexico confirming the location and dates across the continent for seasons 2020/2021 through to 2022/2023.
This newly formatted series of qualifiers, with a minimum 4* level, will form the heart of a truly global qualification process that promotes universality and competitivity. Reducing the number of qualifiers and strengthening the quality of the events, gives a clear and fair pathway into the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Series and will see a higher demand from athletes to compete. Availability of an international live broadcast signal and extensive promotion of the series will be a welcome compliment to the changing landscape of the broadcast product and development of this professional sports league.
The first of the newly formatted seasons will kick off in Sacramento, CA, (USA) in early October 2020, it will continue to Washington, D.C. (USA), Lexington, KY (USA), Toronto (CAN), Las Vegas, NV (USA), Fort Worth, TX (USA) and Guadalajara (MEX). The season will finish in Wellington, FL (USA) in February 2021 where athletes will confirm their ticket to the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final which returns to Gothenburg (SWE) for the 23rd time. Athletes from the North American League qualify alongside winners of the 15 other leagues including the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western Europe League and the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ China League from this global series which has been in existence since 1978.
“We received an overwhelming number of bids to host these qualifiers. The major changes to the format of the series, the close collaboration between FEI and the National Federations with the support of our top partner Longines together with organisers and stakeholders highlights the continued efforts made to propel the sport forward making it more attractive to the athletes and the fans” said FEI President, Ingmar De Vos.
“The launch in 2015 established the series’ successful introduction into this region, expanding the international reach of the FEI World Cup as a global series in the emerging North American markets. Now that we are adding an international live broadcast signal, we believe this is an important and exciting decision that will take us to the next step to place jumping in North America in the spotlight as a sport.”
“We are proud to support the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup North American League as its Title Partner, Official Timekeeper and Watch since its inception in 2015” Matthieu Baumgartner, Longines Vice President Marketing said.
“This new promising format of the series is perfectly in line with our common goal to promote the show jumping discipline across North America. We are looking forward to taking part in the seasons to come and thus contributing to the continued expansion of the show jumping discipline in these markets”.
Longines is a strong supporter of equestrian sport around the world as FEI Top Partner, title partner of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ China League and the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™. It is also the Official Timekeeper and Official Watch of the FEI.
Now in its fifth year, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League 2019-2020 season held the first qualifier of the season in Vancouver last month and will continue next month in North Salem, NY (USA) on 15 September 2019.
Click here to view the calendar.
Click here to view all the latest information on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series.
Germany are European team champions once more and Ingrid Klimke joins an elite group of back-to-back winners as Michael Jung settles for silver and Ireland’s Cathal Daniels soars up the leaderboard to take individual bronze. Sweden and Italy claim Olympic team slots for Tokyo 2020.
The popular and ever-gracious Ingrid Klimke (GER) thrilled her mass of cheering, flag-waving supporters by conjuring a faultless Jumping round from her wonderful horse SAP Hale Bob OLD to clinch both the team title for Germany as well as her second successive individual gold medal at the Longines FEI European Championships, held in her home country at Luhmühlen.
Klimke, who lost her grip on the world title last year when hitting the very last fence at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon (USA), never looked like making a mistake this afternoon on the spring-heeled Bobby, and she left her team mate Michael Jung, who was bidding for a record fourth European title, no margin for error.
When Jung’s fischerChipmunk FST, a horse that is surely a thrilling prospect for Tokyo, hit the second part of the double at 10b, Klimke smiled in rueful sympathy before dancing a jig of excitement.
She is the fifth rider in the 66-year history of the Europeans to win back-to-back titles, following Britain’s Lucinda Green (1975, 1977), Ginny Eliot (1985, 1987, 1989), Pippa Funnell (1999, 2001) and Michael Jung (2011, 2013, 2015) and the second to do it on the same horse, following Funnell’s triumphs on Supreme Rock.
“I definitely came to win the title for sure,” said Klimke. “It’s really very special, knowing that there are so many very quality riders and horses. It was so close, but this year the luck was with me.”
Klimke paid tribute to her long-time Jumping trainer Kurt Gravemeier, who came to walk the course with her, and said that this victory for Germany would be “a positive wind” for the Tokyo Olympic Games next year.
Jung was sportsmanlike in defeat, describing the weekend as “super sport”. He explained: “I was a little bit too fast in the last combination, but this little mistake has not made the whole week bad, so I am very happy. We are a great team and we still have one more year to work on little details and I think we are well prepared for next season.”
Germany’s team gold, their fourth European title since the country’s dazzling run of success began at Luhmühlen in 2011, was never really in doubt with their comfortable three-fence margin after Cross Country, but the fight for silver and bronze medals became an intriguing game of snakes and ladders as team fortunes ebbed and flowed over what was a relatively straightforward Jumping track.
Great Britain just managed to hold onto team silver – by 0.3 of a penalty – as Oliver Townend (Cooley Master Class SRS, ninth), Piggy French (Quarrycrest Echo, 15th) and Pippa Funnell (Majas Hope, 22nd) each clocked up four faults. Townend, for whom it was a personal best team performance, did well to recover his composure after Cooley Master Class got too close to the planks at eight and crashed through the fence.
Sweden, silver medallists in 2017, were the beneficiaries of a titanic struggle for the team bronze medal, securing qualification for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year in the best possible style with superb clear rounds from Ludwig Svennerstal (El Kazir SP, eighth), Louise Romeike (Wakiki 207, 12th) and Ebba Adnervik (Chippieh, 23rd).
Svennerstal said: “The Olympics is really the highlight for us. It’s very important for our federation and for ourselves. The team has worked really hard to achieve this and we’re extremely happy. I think we had a slightly disappointing start to the week and then we regrouped and everyone in the whole team, including behind the scenes, has been working very hard and we’re very happy with the outcome.”
France’s grasp on the bronze medal was already precarious when Alexis Goury withdrew Trompe l’Oeul d’Emery at this morning’s horse inspection. The 2003 and 2007 European champion Nicolas Touzaint put France back in the hunt with a magnificent clear round on Absolut Gold HCD, but medal success hinged on Lt Col Thibaut Vallette delivering a clear round. Unfortunately Qing de Briot hit the fifth fence, putting paid to both France’s team and his own individual medal chances by frustratingly small margins.
Italy, with a clear round from Arianna Schivo (Quefira de l’Ormeau, 17th), looked threatening until Pietro Roman (Baraduff) incurred eight faults and Giovanni Ugulotti suffered a nightmare 22.4-penalty round on Note Worthy. This relegated Italy to fifth, but at least with the compensation of the second available Olympic qualifying slot.
Ireland finished sixth, a weekend of mixed fortunes being compounded with the overnight withdrawal of Ciaran Glynn’s November Night. However, there was a clutch of clear rounds from riders in the top 10 and the supremely talented Cathal Daniels (IRL), riding the diminutive mare Rioghan Rua, was the one left at the head of the queue for the individual bronze medal. The 22-year-old from Co Galway is Ireland’s first European individual medallist since Lucy Thompson in 1995.
“It’s an amazing feeling!” he said. “I’ve gone through Juniors, Young Riders and now seniors with this mare. Unfortunately, the team didn’t get as strong a result as they wanted, but I was glad I was able to get a medal and keep spirits high and build again for next year on the road to Tokyo.”
The Olympic countdown has already begun!
Click here for full results
View the highlights here
Michael Jung is on course to make history with a record fourth European title and the German team has a clear advantage over Great Britain after a thrilling day’s Cross Country action.
The German team is on course for another rich medal haul on home turf at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship at Luhmühlen (GER).
Brilliant Cross Country performances by Michael Jung (GER) on new ride fischerChipmunk FRH and defending champion Ingrid Klimke (GER) with the evergreen SAP Hale Bob OLD, who are in individual gold and silver medal positions, ensured the hosts retained their lead over defending champions Great Britain. They now have a three-rail advantage over their rivals going into tomorrow’s final Jumping phase.
“fischerChipmunk is a fantastic horse,” said Jung (37), who was visibly thrilled, but refusing to get ahead of himself by envisaging a record fourth individual European title. “Today was a great feeling. We went a bit fast at the beginning so I slowed down but he was always ahead of the time and it was a great feeling around the course everywhere. It was so nice to see so many people here supporting our sport.”
Klimke, 51, described her round as “pure fun – I felt like a passenger”. She commented: “For sure there was pressure. Hans Melzer [team manager] said to me ‘Don’t pat your horse until you get to the finish line’ because sometimes when I am so thrilled I pat him all the time. I say ‘Bobby you are my hero’, so I wanted to really focus. He really loves cross country. It’s his job and he loves it.”
A cluster of early riders, notably British and Irish pathfinders Pippa Funnell (Majas Hope, 21st) and Ciaran Glynn (November Night, 23rd), made Mike Etherington-Smith’s beautifully presented, flowing course look easy, but there was plenty of drama. There were 44 clear rounds, 22 horses came home inside the optimum time of 10 minutes 10 seconds, and a total of 20 of the 71 Cross Country starters remain on their Dressage score - but all nations had their difficult moments and this made for a thrilling day’s sport.
Kai Ruder, second out for Germany, stayed admirably calm when Colani Sunrise inexplicably refused to go into the start box, which cost the pair 16 time penalties, and Britain’s third starter, Kristina Cook, had an expensive run-out with Billy The Red at the skinny brush fence exiting the second water (12c).
“I was having a super ride,” said Cook sadly, “but he’s an experienced horse and I can’t make excuses. At the moment I am just very disappointed, for me and for the whole team.”
Ireland’s Sam Watson will also be kicking himself after crossing his tracks at the bird fence in the final water (20b) with Tullaberg Flamenco. Italy’s anchorwoman Vittoria Panizzon (Super Cilious) incurred 11 penalties for hitting the frangible gate at 10a and Belgian pathfinder Laura Loge on Absolut Allegro fell at the Rathaus fence (17) in the main arena.
Laura Collett (GBR), third after Dressage, was “gutted” to part company with London 52 after a mis-stride before the influential carved bird at the final water. Four others fell here and Dutch pathfinder Merel Bloom (Chiccolino) retired.
Jung, who has never been out of the individual medals in five European Championships, does not have a fence in hand over his compatriot Klimke. In turn, she has no margin for error over Lühmuhlen first-timer Lt Col Thibaut Vallette (FRA), who rode superbly on the 15-year-old Qing de Briot – coincidentally this is the same final rider line-up as at Blair Castle (GBR) in 2015.
The cost of one Jumping rail covers the next seven: Tim Lips (NED), currently fourth on Bayro, Oliver Townend, who restored Britain’s fortunes with a perfectly judged round on Cooley Masterclass SRS, in fifth, Ireland’s Cathal Daniels, sixth on his super mare Rioghan Rua, French individual Christopher Six (Totem de Brecy, seventh), Italian team member Pietro Roman (Barraduff, eighth), British team member Piggy French (Quarrycrest Echo, ninth) and British individual Kitty King, 10th on Vendredi Biats.
The team medals are equally close: Britain has nothing in hand over the French team, which only has a one-fence advantage over Italy. The Italians, currently in bronze medal position, have no margin over Sweden – both nations are seeking Olympic qualification – and Ireland is a mere 2.2 penalties behind the Swedes in sixth place.
“I think it was a really great day for the sport and for us in Luhmühlen,” said Event Director Julia Otto. “I would like to thank my whole team - they are just amazing the way they work.”
"We have seen some spectacular riding and some great decisions by people who may be riding at this level for the first time today," Course Designer Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR) commented.
"I didn’t expect quite so many to get the time, but when you have great weather like this with excellent footing, it happens, but it could have been pouring with rain and, in my view, you have to prepare a course for all weather. It's all about achieving a standard, so full marks to everyone. For me, it's been a fascinating day. There’s always something new to learn, and if you think you know it all you might as well give up."
Follow all the medal action tomorrow in what’s sure to be a thrilling finale with FEI TV.
For full results and start times click here
Click here for the highlights.
The German team has a commanding lead over Great Britain going into tomorrow’s Cross Country phase
Michael Jung (GER), who has smashed pretty much every record in the sport, has just put himself in line for another – a fourth European title on a fourth horse – having taken the lead at the end of the Dressage phase at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship in Luhmühlen (GER).
The double Olympic champion, who never gives away a mark if he can help it, has a great reputation for getting the best out of all sorts of horses. With his Luhmühlen ride fischerChipmunk FST, he has the added benefit of the 11-year-old by Contendro having been well established at top level by his former rider, Julia Krajewski (GER).
Jung’s outstanding score of 20.9 – despite a break of pace in the free walk – could not be bettered, even by defending champion Ingrid Klimke (GER), and the German team is now 16.8 penalties ahead of the 2017 winners, Great Britain, with a mere 68.9 penalties on the scoreboard.
“Chipmunk is a fantastic horse. He’s so intelligent and extremely well trained,” said Jung, who blamed himself for the mistake. “He has a lot of power and sometimes there’s a difficult balance between that and keeping him relaxed. Maybe I risked a little bit too much in the walk so he accidentally broke into trot.
“I nearly liked everything in the test today, just not really the walk – the extended walk especially!”
Klimke produced a reliably stellar performance on her regular team partner SAP Hale Bob OLD to score 22.2. Their test reflected a beautifully trained horse and a happy partnership, and Klimke even had time to pat her 15-year-old bay gelding in reward for a smooth flying change.
British individual Laura Collett and London 52, the first-day leaders, are now third, ahead of German team member Kai Ruder (Colani Sunrise) and France’s Lt Col Thibaut Vallette (Qing de Briot).
Regular Dutch team rider Tim Lips has slotted into sixth place on Bayro on a score of 26.0 and three British riders occupy the next three places.
They are headed by team anchorman Oliver Townend, who has been grounded for some weeks after a fall. He put in a solid performance, bar a slight stumble in trot, and is in seventh place on his dual Kentucky winner Cooley Master Class (27.6). Individual runner Kitty King (Vendredi Biats) is eighth on 27.9.
The 2009 champion Kristina Cook, currently ninth on 28.3, is back on the team with a well-behaved Billy The Red. They were dropped from the team last year due to the Balou de Rouet gelding putting in some occasionally explosive Dressage performances.
The Belgian team, which is seeking one of the two precious Olympic qualification slots for Tokyo 2020, is in third place with a team total of 90.9; France, Ireland and Italy follow, with just 3.4 penalties covering the four nations.
Attention is now focused on tomorrow’s Cross Country test designed by Mike Etherington-Smith, who has re-routed the track, allowing plenty of alternative routes while warning that they will cost in time penalties. “It’s beautifully designed and built,” commented Townend.
“I’m a fan of Mike Etherington Smith’s courses. There are no blind questions. If you’re on your line and you and your horse are focused on the job, it should ride well.”
“The way the fences are situated, it’s very easy to make a mistake,” added Townend’s team mate, Kristina Cook, a veteran of nine Europeans and, with pathfinder Pippa Funnell, a member of the winning British quartet 20 years ago here in Luhmühlen.
The overnight leader Michael Jung is also appreciative of the 26–fence track: “It’s a very fair course, to be in the time you have to be fast, you have to take a little bit of a risk, and as faster as you go, as easier you can have somewhere a little mistake.”
Tomorrow promises to be a thrilling competition. First out on course at 10.00 CEST will be the Netherlands’ Merel Blom and Chiccolino.
Follow the action on FEI TV and click here for full results and start times.
Belgium leads the team standings at this early stage, with Britain’s Laura Collett holding the individual top spot after the first day of Dressage.
Laura Collett (30) competing as an individual for Great Britain, produced some stunning work to take the lead at the end of the first day of Dressage at the Longines FEI Eventing European Championship Luhmuhlen (GER), but it looks as though the door has been left open for a potential new order tomorrow.
The graceful Collett, a neat rider known for her prowess in this phase, scored 25.5 on the German-bred 10-year-old London 52, a runner-up at Boekelo CCI4*-L last year and winner of the Chatsworth CCI4*-S this year, but only one of the three judges placed her first.
“He’s still a bit green and shy,” explained a delighted Collett of London 52, who made only small errors in the second flying-change and with a misstep in the canter work. “He saw the grandstand and was a little overwhelmed. He’s never been in a situation like this before, but he listened to me and kept his head.”
“He knows all the moves and trusts me so much. If I keep riding and hold his hand, he’s all right. I’m obviously delighted with his score and it’s exciting for the future.”
The former Junior and Young Rider European Champion is a mere 0.3 ahead of Germany’s second team rider Kai Rüder on Colani Sunrise and France’s 2015 European team and individual bronze medallists Lt Col Thibaut Vallette on the elastic moving Qing de Briot ENE HN.
Both the French army rider, a member of the 2016 Olympic gold medal team, and Rüder are reliably elegant in the Dressage arena and the pair are in joint second place on 25.8 penalties.
“It was a super dressage test with lots of highlights,” commented Ruder. “Colani was very relaxed, with good half-passes and the extended canter was just brilliant. It’s wonderful to see how much he improves from test to test. He’s a very strong character and you have to respect him - then he’ll do anything to please.”
The Ground Jury – Martin Plewa (GER, President), Anne-Mette Binder (DEN) and Peter Andrew Shaw (AUS) – awarded sub 30 marks to seven of today’s 35 riders, including the first two for the Belgian team, Laura Loge (Absolut Allegro) and the hugely experienced Karin Donckers (Fletcha van’t Verahof).
The Belgian pair is in equal fourth place on 28.8 penalties which gives the nation, in search of qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a boost in first place in the team competition at this stage.
Germany, the host nation, is second – their pathfinder, Andreas Dibowski (FRH Corrida) scored 34.6 – and France is third. Defending champions Great Britain are fifth.
Pippa Funnell (GBR), who won the European title at Luhmuhlen 20 years ago, was a late call up to the team on Monday and is taking the pathfinder role on Majas Hope, currently 17th individually on 35.4. Second to go, Piggy French (GBR) and Quarrycrest Echo, members of the winning team at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon (USA) last year, are in seventh place on 29.8.
“This is no dressage competition,” pointed out French. “I’ve walked the cross-country course once and my first impression is that it’s a proper championship course. You have to think really hard about which lines you choose. It’s a quick track with decent waters.”
Competition is expected to hot up tomorrow when all eyes will be on the defending champion Ingrid Klimke (GER) and her brilliant horse SAP Hale Bob OLD, plus her team mate and three-time champion Michael Jung (GER) with his exciting new ride fischerChipmunk FRH.
Other potential highlights are world number two Oliver Townend (GBR) riding the dual Kentucky winner Cooley Master Class, Ireland’s Sam Watson on the attractive dun Tullaberg Flamenco and France’s dual European champion Nicolas Touzaint (Absolut Gold TDC).
Follow the action on FEI TV and with live results on www.rechenstelle.de
Click here for the full results.
Watch highlights here.
The scene is set for a titanic battle for the Longines FEI Eventing European Championship, held for the fifth time at the much-loved German venue of Luhmühlen from 29 August - 1 September 2019.
The German team is notoriously hard to beat on home ground – they dominated the medals here in 2011, as well as at Malmö (SWE) in 2013 and Blair Castle (GBR) in 2015 - but surrendered their crown in 2017 at Strzegom (POL) to Great Britain, the record-breaking winners of 22 team titles since the championship began in 1953.
Germany has a wealth of talent to choose from as they are allowed to enter 12 combinations. The reigning individual champions, Ingrid Klimke (GER) and her brilliant SAP Hale Bob, look to have timed their title defence to perfection with a sparkling win in the recent CCI4*-S at Aachen (GER) and it will be fascinating to see if three-time European Champion Michael Jung can win a record fourth title on new ride FischerChipmunk FST, a horse he has taken over from former team mate Julia Krajewski (GER).
Great Britain, the reigning World and European Champions, field two from their triumphant FEI World Equestrian Games™ squad last year: Piggy French, who has enjoyed a stream of international wins this summer, including the coveted Badminton title – she rides Quarrycrest Echo and Kristina Cook, the 2009 individual champion.
Cook, who celebrates her 49th birthday on Cross Country day, will be making a remarkable ninth FEI European Championship appearance, riding Billy the Red. In addition, Britain will be calling on world number two, Oliver Townend, with his dual Kentucky CCI5*-L winner Cooley Master Class and following the withdrawal of Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser from the British squad, Pippa Funnell has received the call to replace Tom, riding her own and Marek Sebastak’s Majas Hope. Dual European champion, Pippa has competed in ten championship teams – winning three European medals, the first of her titles in Luhmuhlen 20 years ago in 1999 – and has represented Great Britain at three Olympic Games.
Irish eventing is on the crest of a wave with world team silver last year. Can they go one better this time? No doubt statistician Sam Watson, who has had much international success this season and who rides the eye-catching dun, Tullamore Flamco, can provide the odds. In a neat twist, his father, John, was a member of the last Irish team to win the Europeans, 40 years ago at Luhmühlen in 1979.
Watson’s Tryon team mates Cathal Daniels (Rioghan Rua) and Sarah Ennis (Woodcourt Garrison) may take all the beating if Course Designer Mike Etherington-Smith’s Cross Country track plays to Irish strengths.
Another extraordinary statistic is that France has never won European team gold. The Olympic champions field a particularly star-studded squad that includes two former individual European champions, Jean-Lou Bigot (1993) and Nicolas Touzaint (2003 and 2007), plus the brilliant Olympic combination of Thibaut Vallette and Qing de Briot.
Thirteen nations will be fielding teams, including Sweden (the reigning silver medallists), Italy (bronze medallists in 2017), plus Austria, Belgium, Finland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Switzerland. Four nations will field individuals only: Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Norway.
Aside from the contest for medals, crucial Olympic qualifications are at stake for the top 2 teams that have not already qualified.
Follow all the live action on FEI TV and live results on www.luhmuehlen.de
For more information on the statistics, medal table and history of the FEI European Championships click here.
Daniel Coyle (IRL) rode to a thrilling victory in the CSI4*-W $145,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Vancouver.
Coyle revealed a rising star in the 9-year-old Farrel, who produced two electrifying clear rounds in the first of 14 legs in the 2019/2020 North American League season. Kelli Cruciotti (USA) finished second as the only other double-clear performer on the day, while Harrie Smolders (NED) was third aboard Hocus Pocus de Muze.
“I think, give him another year’s time, and he will be a real, real top horse—not that he isn’t right now, but he’s still a little green,” Coyle said. “This was a real track today, and he proved himself to be a real horse for the future.”
Just five combinations were able to clear Peter Holmes (CAN)’s first round course without fault, and they all came from the class’s final eight riders. Richard Spooner (USA) was the first to crack the code, and Coyle, Smolders, Beezie Madden (USA), and Cruciotti followed.
In the jump-off, Coyle was the first to produce a second clear, and no one could catch him. He finished the shortened course in 37.32 seconds. Cruciotti, riding her mount from the 2019 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg (SWE), finished in 42.26 seconds, while Smolders finished with a 4-fault score in 37.41 seconds.
“In the jump off, usually he jumps better, which is strange, but when you start galloping, he starts to look a little quicker and jump a little higher,” Coyle said. “I know that from the last few years that I’ve had him. That third jump did come down a lot, and I really rode him at it, and he jumped it probably as good as he could that second time. When you know them a little more, it’s a lot easier, especially when they’re younger jumping this level.”
The victory moved Coyle to the top of the east coast sub league standings of the North American League with 20 points, while Cruciotti took over an early lead in the west coast standings with 17 points.
The North American League continues in New York on 15 September 2019.
Full results here.
Martin Fuchs became the sixth Swiss rider in the 62-year history of the event to claim individual Jumping gold at the Longines FEI European Championships 2019 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands today.
At last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon, USA, and again at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg, Sweden earlier this year, the talented 27-year-old had to settle for silver despite heroic efforts with his brilliant grey gelding Clooney. Today however he at last stood on the top step of the podium when pinning Great Britain’s Ben Maher (37) into silver medal spot and young Belgian star, 23-year-old Jos Verlooy who was a member of last Friday’s gold medal-winning team, into bronze.
Just 12 of the top-25 went into the second round over another superb track designed by The Netherlands’ Louis Konickx. Some protesters ran into the arena as Dutchman Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof’s Calimero took their turn, but this consummate horseman and his experienced 12-year-old gelding jumped clear to finish in eighth place at the end of the day.
In the closing stages defending European champions Peder Fredricson with H&M All In, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann with Toveks Mary Lou and reigning world champion Simone Blum from Germany with DSP Alice all faulted at the triple combination before it came down to a fight to the finish between the top three.
Fuchs had moved up from overnight bronze into silver medal spot when Verlooy and his chestnut gelding Igor made a mistake at the triple combination first time out today, but Maher held onto the lead with yet another extraordinary round from Explosion W.
Verlooy was foot-perfect second time out, collecting just a single time fault, and when Fuchs did exactly the same then all the pressure was on the British rider who was last into the ring. And he looked to have gold in the bag until the pole on water-tray vertical two from home fell to gasps from the crowd. It would be the Swiss celebrating tonight.
“It looked very much like I would be second again, Ben has been great over the past two years and especially at this championship again I didn’t think I would beat him or that he would make a fault, but obviously I am very happy to be winning here and to finally not have only the silver medal!” Fuchs said.
Looking back on how this week of competition has played out he said, “I had a fault the first day in the Speed class, it was my mistake I took a lot of risk and Clooney struggled at the last combination, but he has been great every day, getting better and better over each round which is one of his best qualities. And I was saying today before going into the final, if I do my job and do the small things right he won’t let me down!”
The first person to give him a congratulatory hug was Irishman Sean Vard. “Sean has been with me a couple of years and is a great groom, friend, supporter and the best person that has ever followed me to the shows. And my family, my parents and my owner Luigi - they are always here supporting me. Unfortunately my girlfriend Paris couldn’t be here this week, she’s in California and she’s been up all night to watch me and I had a little chat with her before my second round. She just said don’t worry you will win it, she’s been saying that for the last three days and I kept saying don’t jinx it, touch wood, touch wood!”, said the happy Swiss rider.
He thanked Clooney’s owner, Luigi Baleri who has been awarded the IJOC Horse Owner of the Year title. “He’s always a big support and he’s like a second father, driving me to shows since I was a Junior!” said Fuchs whose first major victory was gold at the Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
Clearly disappointed this evening, Maher was still delighted with this week’s results with Explosion W. “On the day I wasn’t good enough to beat Martin, but all of these horses deserve to win - I made this one mistake and I’m very happy that if anyone has to beat me it is Martin!” he said.
Verlooy said he was delighted for his horse, Igor. “He jumped great and I’m very happy that I have given him this medal, he really deserved it. He is by Emerald and he’s really stepping into his father’s footsteps and I’m very proud of that. At the beginning of the week if you told me I was going to have this bronze I would have been fine with that, so I’m not complaining!”
Results here
Watch highlights here
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