GERMANY retained team gold at the FEI European Eventing Championships for Juniors in Millstreet last weekend but the main talking point was the record-breaking dressage score achieved by Britain’s Isabelle Upton who claimed individual gold on Eros DHI.
German rider Antonia Baumgart led after the opening session on Thursday morning when achieving a penalty score of 34.90 on Little Rose 9 but that was bettered by three others on Friday morning when the weather conditions were a lot worse.
Gesa Staas took over the top spot early in the session on 29.80 with Donnerstag 20 and fellow team member Emma Brüssau, competing before the final break, consolidated the German position when posting a score of 30.50.
As good as that pair were however, their marks were blown out of the water when Upton’s performance in the Millstreet arena on Eros DHI saw the British rider take a near six-point lead on 23.90.
Though Upton burst into tears of delight when that score was announced, it was tough going on Ireland’s Correna Bowe to be the next, and last, into the arena on LCC Cooley and she did well to achieve a mark of 51.80. Best of the Irish individually following the first phase was Co Kildare’s Alex Power who was lying 10th on the German-bred Lakantus (41).
The medal positions after dressage saw the Germans in front on 95.20, followed by Great Britain (102.70) and France (131.30). Ireland was in sixth place on 140.80, the country’s other contributing scores coming from Jim Tyrrell with Rock Gift (48) and Bowe. Disappointingly for Anna Kelly, she provided the discard score with Something Special (56.40).
The one-star cross-country track for the Juniors was relatively straight-forward but there was an early hold to the action while the MIN pin at The Irish Field Park Question (fence 15) was put back into position.
All but one of the top 10 combinations maintained their positions after the cross-country phase, Belgium’s Jarno Verwimp dropping down from fifth to 45th when D.V.8 glanced off the second of the off-set Barry’s Tea Gypsy Wagons (21), frustratingly just one fence from home.
So too did the ex-racehorse Ballycarron Lad, and with the addition of 1.20 for time, Ireland’s Izzy Riley slipped from 46th to 53rd. Worse was to come for the Co Down combination on Sunday morning when the 15-year-old Snurge gelding was not accepted at the second horse inspection.
Luke Coen picked up 20 jumping penalties when the seven-year-old Stroke Of Genius glanced off the troublesome second of the Tattersalls Ireland castle lawn corners at 10. This fence also caught out Cillian Creedon with Spirit In The Sky, that combination also being penalised when glancing off the first of the gypsy wagons (20).
Sadly for Robyn McCluskey, her championships ended early as Rum Jumbie refused to go anywhere near the drominahill farmyard at three, then whipped around and dropped her. Four other combinations were eliminated, two for horse falls, and one retired on course.
With clear rounds from all team riders, Ireland moved up to fourth after cross-country but the top three remained the same with the French total just increasing slightly to 136.
While Sunday’s show jumping course caused plenty of problems, with 45 of the 69 riders picking up penalties and two being eliminated, there was no change to the top of the leaderboard with the destination of the medals having been decided in the dressage arena.
The German team who won gold comprised the aforementioned Staas, Brüssau and Baumgart – who finished second, third and fourth individually – and Katharina Grupen, who was placed 39th on Royal Favorite 2.
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Britain’s Isabelle Upton picked up two time penalties over the coloured poles with Eros DHI but a three-phase total of 25.90 will surely remain in the record books for some time to come.
Following the medal ceremony and further photographs with team members, family and supporters, the 18-year-old took time out to talk to The Irish Field. Asked if she thought her horse’s previous experience in the CICYH1* at Millstreet in 2015 was of benefit, she replied: “Oh definitely, especially the fact that he had done his dressage in the big arena before.
“The cross-country was a proper championship course. I had a bit of a sticky moment at the first water but he was perfect otherwise. I hope to do the CCI2* at Osberton with him as we will be moving up to Young Riders next year. However, as all but one of our Junior team is moving on and with all but one of our Young Riders team staying put, it’s going to be very competitive!”
“I live just outside Newmarket but am starting at Edinburgh University in the autumn, studying Sports Management. I’ll be flying up and down to keep up my work with the horses. I’m delighted that my parents, brother (and other relations) and my trainer Charlotte Bathe all came over to support me.”