Team Germany continued on its gold medal streak as its junior delegation clinched gold in the team competition at the 2026 European Junior Riders Championships in Olomouc, Czech Republic, on 16 July 2026.
The season highlight of 2026 for European youth riders is in the month of July with the young riders and Under 25 riders having had their battle at the Europeans in Pilisjaszfalu (HUN) last week. The caravan moved from there, straight away, to Olomouc where the European Children and Junior Riders Championships are being contested. At the end of the month the pony riders meet for their Europeans in Le Mans (FRA).
Germany Back to Gold
The team medals were contested via the team championship test. With a massive field of 73 juniors in total and 17 countries competing for medals (there are a few individual riders in there as well) the class had to be split into two as judges are only allowed to judge 40 combinations per day.
Germany held the overnight lead on Wednesday and consolidated that number one position on Thursday with a total of 218.029 points for the team gold medal. They left all competition far behind them as the silver went to Denmark with 212.302 points, while The Netherlands got bronze with 210.454 points. Switzerland was standing second after Wednesday but could not maintain a podium place on Thursday and slotted in fourth with 209.546 points.
The second German score came from Greta Wagner on the 10-year old Hanoverian mare Vanessa H (by Vivaldi x Le Rouge). She was nominated as second reserve to the team but with no less than two riders dropping out before departure to Olomouc, Wagner got her chance. After representing her country at the 2024 European Children Championships in Opglabbeek, she now shot her shot as a junior and placed third with a PB of 72.333%
Martha Raupach is riding her third Europeans, the first two times in the Children division. Now as a junior rider on the 10-year old Oldenburg bred Francis Drake (by Franklin x Don Schufro) she placed fourth with 71.151%.
Germany's drop score was still a strong 70.243% from team new comer Birte Niessing on the 14-year old Oldenburg bred Destino (by Destano x Rohdiamant). The pair stepped in as first reserve to replace Ava Osing and landed 8th place in the team test.
Silver for Denmark
The second best Danish score was 69.848% from Rikke Schoubye Johansen, who's riding her third Europeans. Aboard the 13-year old Baunehojens Carpaccio (buy Charmeur x White Talisman) the student of Jette Neverman placed 10th in the team test.
Following in 12th place with 69.727% was Sofia Rosenkilde aboard the 15-year old Swedish bred Tiger G (by Tuschinski x Sir Donnerhall). The horse started its career in Sweden under Karin Oljemark before selling to the Rosenkilde family. Sister Margarethe showed the horse as of 2023 and Sofie took over the ride this year.
Denmark's drop score was 67.954% from team rookie Isabella Struntze Torp on the experienced Danish team horse Vestervangs Garson (by De Noir x Ragazzo). The pair landed 22nd place after seeing their score reduced when they went off course.
Bronze for the Dutch
The leading Dutch score was a personal best of 70.818% coming from brand new Dutch Junior Champion Annabell de Bock aboard the 7-year old KWPN bred Ostilio (by Vivaldi x Hofrat). They were fifth in the team test with that result.
Britt Kikkert-van der Linde is riding her fifth (!) European Championships and placed 9th with the 12-year old KWPN bred Jerenzo Texel (by Enzo Ferrari x Jazz). They scored 70.121%. Mirthe Willig and her 12-year old Dutch bred Just Biantoes (by Desperado x Santano) followed in 14th plae with 69.515%.
The drop score was still an impression 69.500% from Renske Boekhoud on the 10-year old Dutch bred Lord Lexington (by Geniaal x Gribaldi). They had a technical penalty for entering the arena too late but it would have made no difference for the final team ranking.
Belgian Children Riders Set the Tone in the Preliminary Test
The morning segment on Wednesday and Thursday at the 2026 European Children and Junior Riders Championships was dedicated to the warm-up class for the children riders: the preliminary test.
Second place in the preliminary test went to German Linda Schuchmann aboard the 8-year old Oldenburg stallion Figo de Halliers (by Furstenball x Totilas) with a PB of 81.066%, while Belgia Shirley Vanerom on the 12-year old BWP bred Ogami van het Beukenhof (by Sir Donnerhall x Fidertanz) were third with 81.000%
Thursday in Olomouc finished with a big dance party celebrating the first phase of competition at these Europeans.
Text © Eurodressage - Photos © Lukasz Kowalski
Related Links
Scores: 2026 European Children and Junior Riders Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the European Children and Junior Riders Championships