Germany's course for the team gold medal has been interrupted by a massive thunder storm which struck the show grounds of the 2017 European Pony Championships in Kaposvar, Hungary, on Wednesday 26 July 2017. With only five more riders to go in the team championship test, the competition was postponed until Thursday afternoon 27 July.
Team Germany is well on its way to win the gold medal with all of their riders having competed in the team test. Germany's top pony rider, Lucie Anouk Baumgurtel on Massimiliano (2016 European Pony Champion), had just finished her ride to score the second highest mark of the day, 72.769%, and finished second behind team mate Jana Lang on Cyrill, who had scored 75,308%.
Belgian Clara Mourlon Beernaert was next to go on Don't Dream WE, but she had to stop her test as the thunder storm with rain and lightning hit the show grounds.
"It went incredibly fast here. It was 30° c and within five minutes the rain poured down and it got 10 ° c colder," said German team captain Connie Endres. Dutch team trainer Monique Peutz also rung in: "It's very severe weather with aweful rain, thunder and lightning. Fortunately our stalls are high and the ponies are dry. Some were less fortunate and they had to pull out all the stops to keep their stalls dry."
The German team is currently in the lead with 220.616 points, but team Denmark still has its best rider to go: Louise Christensen on Vegelin's Goya. Team Denmark is standing second at the moment with 214.385 points, while Great Britain has firmly secured third place and the bronze meda with a final standing of 213.154 points.
For Team Great Britain the 2017 European Championships have already been a roller coaster ride. Charlotte McDowall's Le Chiffre developed a kidney stone en route to Hungary and had to be withdrawn last minute. Team reserve Holly Kerslake was called to action and had to re-load her pony Valhallas Zorro, having just unloaded him at her home in Devon after the pre-Euro training camp. Kerslake had to make the long journey to Hungary in her own lorry instead of sharing the ride on the team transport. Furthermore, Great Britain's pony team trainer was not on the scene and the young pony riders had to make do with the progress squad trainer for guidance.
Team Holland is currently standing fourth (212.564 points), but when the Belgian Clara Mourlon Beernaert produces a personal best ride, the Belgian team can move into fourth place. Belgium now stands at 202.743 points.
The five last riders in the team test will go on Thursday afternoon 27 July after the eventing dressage competition wraps up.
Photos © Lukasz Kowalski - check out a full photo gallery from the 2017 Euro Ponies here
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2017 European Pony Championships