Gold for GB all-female team at the Eventing European Championships

It was a day to remember for Team GB at the FEI Eventing European Championships in Haras du Pin, France, which took place from 10–13 August, when Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo), Kitty King (Vendredi Biats), Laura Collett (London 52) and Yasmin Ingham (Banzai du Loir) stood on the podium to collect their team gold medals. Ros Canter and Kitty King also won individual gold and individual silver respectively and Laura was placed ninth.

Team GB stormed the leader board with 103.9, ahead of Germany who took team silver with 131.2 and France who won bronze with 134.2 penalties.

Setting a high standard from the start, Yasmin finished day one on a dressage score of 23.4, Kitty 27.2, Ros 21.3 and Laura on 22.4, which left them in team first place overnight.

Following her dressage test, Yasmin commented: “He was amazing. It was very atmospheric, and he didn’t put a foot wrong. He did everything I asked him to do, and I’m delighted, so pleased!”

Ahead of cross-country day, she said: “There are questions throughout the whole course, which obviously at a championship is what we expect, but there’s definitely a big shock at fence seven – you’re jumping off a large step and then rolling down the hill to a large drop into the water on a nice distance to the skinny. That’s quite an intense part of the course very early on.”

The cross-country phase, featuring a tough course with twists and hills throughout, saw Ros finish with a clear, while Kitty was clear but with time faults and Laura had a pin knock, picking up 15 penalties as well as time faults. On her round, Yasmin had a stop, which collected 20 faults to add to her time faults.

The final day of showjumping had spectators on the edges of their seats. Kitty and Laura went clear, finishing on 32.0 penalties and 46.6 respectively, while both Ros and Yasmin had one down, with Ros finishing on 25.3 penalties and Yasmin on 59.8.

Apart from three British riders, of the 10 nations taking part, Germany and France dominated the individual placings, with the two countries also taking silver and bronze team medals.

The British Equestrian World Class Programme receives funding from the National Lottery and UK Sport to prepare and support teams for senior championships.

Individual placings:

1. Great Britain’s Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo – 25.3
2. Great Britain’s Kitty King and Vendredi Biats – 32.0
3. Germany’s Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz – 34.6
4. Germany’s Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S – 41.5
5. France’s Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold HDC – 43.3
6. France’s Stephane Landois and Ride for Thais Chaman Dumontceau – 44.6
7. Germany’s Jerome Robine and Black Ice – 46.0
8. France’s Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza – 46.3
9. Great Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52 – 46.6
10. France’s Karim Florent Laghouag and Triton Fontaine – 46.9

Team placings:

1. Great Britain – 103.9
2. Germany – 131.2
3. France – 134.2
4. Ireland – 149.2
5. Switzerland – 162.7
6. Sweden – 207.2
7. Belgium – 209.6
8. Netherlands – 219.8
9. Italy – 1,113.5
10. Austria – 3,000

Photo credit – Jon Stroud