FEI European Jumping Championship for Children, 10-13 July 2008, Athens (GRE)

For the second consecutive year Great Britain was proclaimed European Champion at the 2008 FEI European Jumping Championship for Children, held at the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Center in Athens, Greece from 10 to 13 July 2008.

Team members Lauren Edwards on Mr. Bon Ami, Chloe Aston on Cathleen 16, Olivia Dales on Arabella IV, and 2007 individual champion, Graham Gillespie on Ara 12, had a single bar down in the two-round team competition and won the gold medal. For Graham Gillespie and Chloe Aston that was a second team gold.

“We didn’t start well in the first round,” British chef d’ équipe Mike Florence said. “I knew we were going to be medal contenders, but I never thought we’d place first. The other teams were also very strong. The second round was much better for us and that’s why we won. The level of the riders and horses was higher than last year in Istanbul. It’s a great opportunity for the children to ride in the fantastic stadium of the Olympic Equestrian Center.”

“This championship is really important for the future of horsesport,” commented Corinne Braker, Great Britain team trainer. “The experience gained by the children in a championship like this is invaluable.”

Two teams, Turkey and Italy, competed in the jump off, fighting for the second place. Both had eight penalties after the two rounds of the team competition. Italy (Filippo Marco Bologni on Coriana; Giampiero Garofalo on Ombre della Baia; Stefania Fida on Manitou d’or; and Francesca Arioldi on Baldo della Loggia) went clear and with a time of 116s78 won the silver. Turkey (Derin Demirsoy on Trendy B; Omer Ersin on Ucaranda T; Melanie Cosar on Charcolle Z; Yusuf Huysal on Arthur van de Helle) were also clear but went slightly slower (118s65) and had to settle for bronze.

Austria and Switzerland tied for fourth place. Home team Greece placed sixth along with Portugal, with equal 20 penalties.

Photographs in high resolution for use by professional media  are available from the FEI online photocatalogue.