FEI European Jumping Championship for Young Riders: Markopoulo (GRE)

For the second time in its history, the Swiss Team were proclaimed European Champions at the FEI European Jumping Championship for Young Riders held at the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Markopoulo from 6 to 9 July 2006.

With a total of 25 points after two rounds, the all-women Swiss Team (Melanie Mandli on Grandur, Janika Sprunger on Back to Future, Nora Grunig on Fleur XI and Faye Schoch on Caline de Grand Pre) were tied for the first place with the British Team (Portia Howard on Oscar IX, Gemma Paternoster on Osiris, Ryan Pratter on Ocombo de l’eau & Charlotte Platt on Lacanda). An exciting jump off followed. The first three Swiss riders had a better result with just one penalty point compared to the six points of the first three British riders, thus winning the title of FEI European Team Champions for Young Riders.

“We just feel fantastic,” the winners commented right after their victory. “We didn’t actually expect to win the Championship. Our goal was a place at the podium. It is the first time we ride all together as a team. The competition was tough. We did expect much of pressure from the German team as we do know the riders and their horses. The British were very good during the second round.” “Our team was supported by most experienced horsemen, like our coach Willi Melliger, Janika’s father Hansueli Sprunger and Melanie’s uncle, Beat Mändli,” Chef D’ Equipe Albert Lischersaid said. “Uliano Vezzani's course was really high level, technical, but also fair,” Melanie Mandli commented.

Team Germany (Felix Hassmann on Carefina, Henrike Konzag on Adolfo, Thomas Weinberg on Ramino’s Boy and Philipp Weinshaupt on Conterno Grande) came in third with a total of 29 penalty points after the two rounds.

Eleven teams took part in the Team Event.

Contact:
Anna Kotsiou, press@equestrian.org.gr