European Championship Youth: Germany Takes Gold After Tie with The Netherlands
It was another eventful day at the FEI European Championship for Young Drivers. After yesterday’s marathon caused major changes in several standings, today’s concluding cones phase once again turned the rankings upside down. The team competition produced an extraordinary result as well: Germany and The Netherlands finished with exactly the same score in the battle for gold, a rare occurrence, especially at a championship of this level.
Only Dániel Saru (HUN) and Nele Engelmann (GER) managed to hold on to the leads they had after the marathon and secure gold. They became European Champions in the U25 Pony Pairs and Junior Pony Pairs respectively.
No competitor managed to produce a double-clear round over Johan Jacobs’ cones course today. The best result of the day came from Noemie Ghesquiere (FRA). She left all the balls in place and incurred just 1.19 time penalties. That performance moved her from third place into the gold medal position in the Children class. Kamilla Penzer (HUN)claimed silver, while Bryan Limpens (NED) took bronze.
In the Junior Single Pony class, Leo Cordes produced the best result of the day, incurring 2.10 time penalties. His cones victory moved him from fourth in the provisional standings all the way to the gold medal. He overtook Ella Thorén (SWE), who had to settle for silver, while Sophia Ihnen (GER) claimed bronze.
Nele Engelmann (GER) secured the Junior Pony Pairs title by a considerable margin, finishing more than eighteen penalty points ahead of Gábor Márk Varga (HUN), who won silver. Bice Castelli (ITA) took the bronze medal.
Prins Lejeune (BEL) won today’s cones phase in the Junior Single Horse class. With just 2.12 time penalties, he moved from third place into the gold medal position. Marvin Schildt (GER) had to settle for silver, while Afonso Ribeiro (POR) claimed bronze.
In the U25 Single Pony class, today’s cones victory went to Renate Provoost (NED). Her performance moved her from sixth place after the marathon all the way up to the silver medal position. Sophia Routledge (GBR) finished second in today’s cones and had been fourth overall before the final phase. With overnight leader Luisa Dietrich (GER) adding more than sixteen penalties, Routledge climbed to the top of the standings to claim gold. Francesca Consolini (ITA) took bronze.
As mentioned, Dániel Saru (HUN) won the U25 Pony Pairs title. Jonathan Grüber (GER) claimed silver, while the European Championship bronze medal went to Michele Schildt (GER).
Before the cones phase, Daphne Pouwels (NED) led the U25 Single Horse standings. Unfortunately, she added 16.06 penalties today, dropping her to the bronze medal position. Gold went to Come Boisteau (FRA), while Gábor Görög (HUN) claimed silver.
Germany and the Netherlands Level on Points
The team competition could hardly have been closer. After the marathon, Germany held the lead while The Netherlands was in fourth place. Strong Dutch performances in today’s cones phase saw the team move ahead of Great Britain and Sweden and eventually finish with exactly the same total score as Germany.
It was an exceptionally rare result. However, under the rules for a tie, the marathon result is decisive. As Germany had achieved the better marathon score, Germany was awarded the gold medal, while the Netherlands took silver.
France claimed bronze, finishing just 2.19 penalty points behind Germany and The Netherlands.
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