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European Jumping Championship for Young Riders and Juniors

Media updates
20 July 2004 Author: webmaster
British Youth Reigns Supreme in Vilamoura (POR) 
 
Located close to Faro in the beautiful region of Algarve, Vilamoura is the name given to an area rather than to an actual town. It is one of the largest single tourist complexes in Europe and covers some 2000 hectares of land and offer to the visitor nearly every form of sport and entertainment, including a long sandy beach on the Atlantic Coast. Very reputed for its four Golf courses, the resort also hosts a preserved Roman Site and Museum of Cerro da Vila providing an interesting glimpse into the past of the area.

The experienced Organising Committee of the European Jumping Championship for Young Riders and Juniors, the company Lusotur SA, provided excellent stabling and competition facilities for the more than 150 young participants and their mounts, who enjoyed a sunny weather and a pleasant wind on the five days of competitions from 14 to 18 July.



The British riders came away from Portugal with a double team success. Led by Chef d'Equipe Mike Florence, Great Britain indeed dominated the championship and was also crowned by an Individual Silver Medal on Sunday, with Tim Gredley missing the Gold Medal by 1.55 seconds.



The British Team, who won the Young Rider European title on Friday was composed of Robert Whitaker on Karina, Lee Wiliams on Lacanda, Emma Shaw on Crown Rhodonite and Ben Maher on Alfredo. Belgium earned the Silver Medal followed by the Netherlands who had to settle for bronze. With seven riders with less than 2 faults difference, the Final for the Individual title promised to be very exciting. Andrea Herholdt (ITA) confirmed his sparkling performance on Nanta and finished the championship with a little 1.43 fault total and the coveted Gold Medal. Faye Shoch (SUI), the double Pony champion, earned the Silver Medal with Tequi d'I CH. The young Swiss star, who also had finished second of the Junior Championship in 2003, had one fault over the water jump on the second round of the Team competition.
Judy Ann Melchior (BEL) on Espoir Z earned the bronze.



On Saturday, the British Junior team visibly appreciated the course designed by Luis Xavier de Brito (POR) and literally flew over the competition to finish with a faultless performance. The team composed of Marta Beaumont on Bullands Sensation, Tim Gredley on Omelli, Gemma Plumley on Continue B and James Billington on Casyopaya did not leave any uncertainties as to the capture of the Gold. The Silver and Bronze medals however, were decided at the end of a jump-off between Germany and the Netherlands, which turned to the advantage of the German team. Thirteen teams in total competed in the Junior Team competition. One shall note the remarkable level reached by nations such as Hungary and Poland, who finished 7th and 8th respectively, after slightly cracking under pressure on the second round, despite an impressive performance in the first round of the Team competition.



Seven riders went clear in the Team competition and started the Final on Sunday with a clean score. Felix Hassmann of Germany was the fastest in the exciting jump-off for the Individual title, with his 8 years old bay Holsteiner mare Queen Liesa, by Quidam de Revel. He finished in 32.93 seconds, ahead of Tim Gredley (GBRE) who cleared the course in 34.48 seconds to earn the silver medal ahead of Jan Spaas (BEL) who had to settle for bronze.
 
 
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