German Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel and her 11-year old buckskin Massmiliano were the overnight leaders in the individual test and did not loose their firm grip on the first place and individual gold medal at the 2016 European Pony Championships in Vilhelmsborg, Denmark, on Saturday 20 August 2016. Silver went to Inga Katharina Schuster and bronze to Denmark's Louise Christensen.
Judged by Bo Jena (SWE), Sharon Rhode (RSA), Sandy Phillips (GBR), Leif Tornblad (DEN) and Ulrike Nivelle (GER), the individual test was split into two groups with the first group going on Friday and the second on Saturday. Germany drew unfavourably and had all its riders compete in the first group but it did not work to their disadvantage.
After winning the team test and team gold, the 12-year old Lucie-Anouk Baumgurtel, who is not only the youngest but probably also one of the smallest riders at the Europeans, bagged the victory in the individual test on Massimiliano (by Monsun N x Cep Cennedy N) with 76.244%. She placed first with four judges and third with one.
"That (the draw) was not really great, but it can't be changed," German team trainer Connie Endres commented after the medal ceremony. "It was truly great to see which how much cool and oversight this youngest rode. She has a seat for a 10. Her pony trusts her totally, was swinging and relaxed."
Germany's Inga Katharina Schuster and the Krause family's 10-year old Cyrill (by Champion de Luxe x Power Man) were good for silver after posting a score of 75.293% on the board. Her marks varied heavily with scores going from 72.927 from judge Phillips and 78.049% from judge Rhode.
After claiming team silver on home turf, Denmark also snatched its first individual medal with Louise Christensen and the Dutch bred 13-year old Vegelin's Goya (by Verona's Bo Gi x Leuns Veld's Darling Boy) landing third plae with 74.073%. Her marks went from 72.195 (Tornblad - 10th place) to 76.220 (Phillips, 2nd place).
"There is so much potential on this team," said Danish team trainer Jette Nevermann. "We have three riders qualified for the freestyle and two of them are supposed to place in the top five. Today all Danish riders rode better than in the team test and if they can keep that good shape for tomorrow, chances are really well even though the Germans are good."
Denmark's Sara Aagaard Hyrm and the experienced Danish team pony Der Harlekin B (by Golden Dancer x Dornik B) finished just off the podium in fourth place with 74.024%. The best performing Dutch rider was Daphne van Peperstraten on the 9-year old Wonderful Girl (by Wimbledon x Dancer Boy) with a score of 72.829%. The highest scoring pair of the non-team medal getters was British Maddy Whelan on the 8-year old Ode to Shannon (by Washington Postman). They scored 71.854% for 9th place.
by Astrid Appels - Photos © Ridehesten - Digishots
Related Links
Scores - 2016 European Pony Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2016 European Pony Championships