FEI European Jumping Championship in San Patrignano

After three testing courses at San Patrignano a set of 24 riders is prepared to go into the final for the European Jumping Championship on Sunday, July 24. Less than one fault is separating the top four.

Two members of the German team winning their sixth gold on Friday are in top position: Marco KUTSCHER, Bronze medallist from Athens, is set on 3.79 points with MONTENDER, followed by Christian AHLMANN with COSTER (6.21). The 30 year old and his grey stallion are the defending title holders.

French Laurent GOFFINET, ranked third with 6.59, is a new name on the European list. The 29-year-old rider from Normandie rides since childhood but his career really took off five years ago with FLIPPER D’ELLE (12). The brown French stallion by Double Espoir, owned by the National Stud, won this year the Grand Prix at St.Gallen and Deauville. Together they are a member of the French team for the Samsung Super League since 2003.

Surprises in the start list include Andrea HERHOLDT on rank 8. Aged 22, he is the youngest member of the Italian team and was their best team contender with only one pole down. The second Italian competitor Juan Carlos GARCIA, born Colombian, is one of the few riders of the competition who is also the owner of his horse, and at seventeen LORO PIANA ALBIN is the oldest horse competing.

German born Katharina OFFEL will test her new Ukrainian passport for the first time in a major championship. With the Dutch stallion NIKE she is ranked 16 and came a long way with her all German team of trainers, veterinarian and farrier. The talented rider with some championship experience at Young Riders level is working on forming a team of Ukrainian riders for championships to come.

Sebastian NUMMINEN, sole competitor from Finland, arrived in the finals from the reserve list. He rides 16 year old stallion SAILS AWAY, a son of Cruising, a well known competitor for Ireland.

For the individual title the riders face two rounds A and B with a possible jump off in the event of equality for one of the first three places after Round B.