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September 2007 • VOLUME 25 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine FEI Eventing
10/09/2007 - Former Champions Challenge for European Medals
Arnd Bronkhorst
The 28th FEI European Eventing Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) promises to be one of the most competitive yet, with 14 nations declared and some of the best riders in the world vying for individual medal glory.
Great Britain, who field the reigning World and European individual champions, Zara Phillips on Toytown, have an undisputed dominance in European Championships over the years, having won the last six team gold medals. But they field some new names, being without William Fox-Pitt, the reigning silver medallist, for the first time since 2000, nor the likes of Pippa Funnell, Leslie Law and Jeanette Brakewell. Instead, the team islikely to comprise WEG pathfinder Daisy Dick (Springalong), Oliver Townend(Flint Curtis), Zara Phillips and the experienced Mary King on Call Again Cavalier as anchorwoman. For Mary, Pratoni promises to be a happy return;she won the individual bronze medal in 1995 on King William when five months pregnant with her first child.
However, as has just been seen in the Dressage equivalent in Turin,Britain’s stranglehold over the years – winning 20 out of 27 meetings - is arecord waiting to be broken. And there will be no more organised and determined team to make the break than the Germans. They are world champions yet, remarkably, have not won European team gold since Kiev in 1973.
Their early intention is to field a team of four men – world gold medallists Frank Ostholt, winner of the recent CICO 3* in Aachen, and Hinrich Romeikeplus Peter Thomsen and Dirk Schrade - while Bettina Hoy, riding Ringwood Cockatoo, has an obvious chance to win a second individual gold medal 10 years to the date of her triumph at Burghley on Watermill Stream. IngridKlimke, the reigning bronze medallist on Watermill Stream, also has individual claims on up-and-coming star Butts Abraxxas.
Even more unbelievably, the French, reigning Olympic team champions and theEuropean bridesmaids three years consecutively, have never won European team gold, and will be ferociously determined. Nicolas Touzaint and Galan de Sauvagere, individual champions in 2003, reigning FEI World Cup championsand winners of the test event at Pratoni in April, have to be outstandingfavourites to take the individual title. But they have high-class back-up inthe form of 2002 World Champions Jean Teulere on Espoir de la Mare, plus the likes of Olympic gold medallists Cedric Lyard and Arnaud Boiteau on the veteran Expo du Moulin.
Sweden, European champions in 1983 and 1993, are also due another win andfield a strong team that includes the experienced Dag Albert on the great cross-country horse Who’s Blitz, rising star Viktoria Carlerback, and theAlgotsson sisters – Linda won individual silver medals in 1999 and 2003 onthe home-bred Stand By Me.
Much attention will focus on Britain, Germany and France, but the cool Swedes could easily be the dark horses of the competition.
Similarly, Italy, as host nation, fields 12 riders and will be looking to better the team bronze they won in 2001 and, perhaps, win a first individual medal. They certainly have candidates, most notably the carabinieri’s rider Susanna Bordone and Vittoria Panizzon, a Junior European gold medallist atPratoni back in the 1990s.
Secondary to the medal competition will be the battle for Olympic places inHong Kong next year. The only qualified nations at Pratoni are Germany,Britain and Sweden, so countries like France, Italy, Ireland and Belgium,the bronze medallists in 1999 and 2003, will be vying for those precious three places available to the best placed three unqualified nations.
Team and individual riders will be confirmed after the first horseinspection, which takes place on Wednesday, September 12. After that, let battle commence in the gladiatorial amphitheatre in the mountains that is Italy’s national equestrian centre at Pratoni del Vivaro.
10/09/2007 - A Champion Remembers: Ginny Elliot
Ginny Elliot and Master Craftsman, the winning combination at the 1989 FEIEuropean Eventing Championship at Burghley
Ginny Elliot (born Holgate) is the only rider to win three successiv individual FEI Eventing European titles. She recalls those three special victories and the horses who made them happen:
PRICELESS, Burghley 1985 “My first individual gold medal was special, particularly because it was on home ground. It was also the first time I’d been last to go for the team,which was a totally different experience and meant a horribly long nervous wait.”
“Priceless had a habit of bucking at awkward moments and he did a massive buck in front of a big downhill trakehner. I thought I was doomed, but somehow we stayed together.
“There was also a difficult angled fence three from home. Our chef d’equipe Malcom Wallace [Wol] told me that if I got there 3minutes inside the time I was allowed to do the long route.
“Of course, I never used to bother to look at my watch, so when I got there– in time as it happens – I thought: ‘I’d better go straight!’ Poor Wol, who was expecting me to take the less risky route, nearly had a heart attack.”
NIGHT CAP ll, Luhmuhlen 1987:“Night Cap was a timid horse who had a tendency to ‘blow up’ in the dressage. We prepared for this at home by asking a ‘rent-a-crowd’ of people up from the village to clap.“On the day of our test, we took him up to the dressage arena early, fed him his lunch, and let him graze and listen to the clapping. It worked amazingly well.“I was also worried that the cross-country would be too much for Night Cap.He was insecure in comparison to Priceless, who was a bossy horse. But Night Cap gave me a fantastic ride and proved he was a champion after all. It was one of those competitions that went for me all the way.”
MASTER CRAFTSMAN, Burghley 1989:“Master Craftsman (Crafty) had been to the Olympics in 1988 when he was only eight years old. He was still quite green and I didn’t know if he would be athletic enough for Burghley. But he did a lovely dressage test and a fast cross-country.“However, he was a difficult horse to show jump. I am a bit ‘blonde’ so I used to walk the track about 10 times and, of course, this time there was so much at stake.“There was a dreadful moment when we landed over a fence and I realised I hadn’t a clue where to go next! Thankfully, it seemed as if a guardian angel had tapped me on the shoulder and said: ‘Turn right’. I did, and it was theright decision, but it was a nasty moment!”
Conclusion:“It was a splendid period in the sport for me. No doubt someone will come along one day and beat my record. But I am glad I did it when the European Championships were still long format and held at four-star level. Those were the good old days, and I was very lucky.”
10/09/2007 - A Supreme Record
Pippa Funnell and Supreme Rock at the 2001 FEI European Eventing Chamionshipin Pau (FRA). Jean Morel
Supreme Rock is the only horse to have won back-to-back titles, in 1999-2001under Pippa Funnell, and his four gold medals equals the achievement of Kilbarry, The Poacher and Over To You
In his early days, Supreme Rock – “Rocky” – was an unlikely champion. Bredin Ireland by Lindy Good, by Edmund Burke out of her show hunter mare Rineen Classic, Rocky was initially designed as a hunter and fun horse for owner Emma Pitt.
Pippa recalls liking him for his scope and loose, swinging gait, which was to earn so many marks in the dressage arena, but she didn’t consider his brain sharp enough. He was laid-back and, in the early days, big and weak and found it hard to adjust his enormous stride in front of a fence and, asa result, Pippa faced many disappointments with him.
Remarkably, he hadn’t jumped a clear cross-country round at top level beforethe 1999 European Championships in Luhmuhlen, but Britain’s chairman of selectors, Mandy Stibbe, placed enormous faith in the combination, which was not misplaced and they led from start to finish.
Pippa recalled: “Clearing that final fence was a special moment, not justfor me, but for our partnership, because Rocky had finally proved why he was worth sticking with. At last everything had gone right. Having two gold medals around my neck suddenly made all those years of slog worthwhile.”
At Pau in 2001, Pierre Michelet’s cleverly designed twisting cross-countrywas not Rocky’s preferred galloping style, but he handled it like a champion, the pair’s only mistake occurring in the show jumping when, in a heart-stopping moment, they crashed through the penultimate fence. But a win is a win, and history was made with another double gold.
Supreme Rock also won back-to-back Badmintons, plus Olympic team silver andworld team bronze medals. He is now hunting and having fun with his owner,Emma Pitt.
10/09/2007 - The Record Breakers
Ginny Elliot and Ian Stark hold the joint record for European gold medalswon – seven each, but Lucinda Green still has the most medals (10).
Supreme Rock, ridden by Pippa Funnell (GBR), is the only horse to winback-to-back titles (in 1999 and 2001); he has four European gold medals intotal, equaling the record of Kilbarry, The Poacher and Over To You, who wona record four consecutive European team golds (1999-2005).
Only three horses have held World and European titles simultaneously:Cornishman V (Mary Gordon Watson, 1969-70); Priceless (Ginny Holgate,1985-86); Toytown (Zara Phillips, 2005-06).
Princess Anne and Zara Phillips are the only mother-daughter combination to win European titles (1971 and 2005).
Harry and Virginia Freeman-Jackson (IRL) are the only father-daughter combination to ride on a team together, in 1959 and 1962.
Ireland also fielded the first brother-sister team, with John and Jessica Fowler in 1967 and then Jeremy and Jill Spring in 1991. Mandy and Eddy Stibbe were the first husband and wife combination (1989-91) and Jean-Yvesand Thierry Touzaint, the first brothers (1975).
Eddy Stibbe holds the record for the most European Championship appearances:12 for the Netherlands. Horst Karsten represented Germany nine times; Piotr Piasecki eight for Poland; Herbert Blocker (GER), Ginny Elliot (GBR) and Lucinda Green (GBR) seven each.
Lucinda Green’s 10 European medals (5 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze) is still a record.
Women hold a fractional advantage in European Championships with 14 female individual gold medallists against 13 male.
13/09/2007 - FEI European Eventing Championship, Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA),12 - 16 September 2007
Ingrid Klimke (GER) on FRH Butts Abraxxas by Kit Houghton
The 2007 FEI European Eventing Championship began today in the equestrian centre of the FISE, the Italian Equestrian Federation, at Pratoni del Vivaro, 50 km away from Rome.
The first 31 riders – out of the 65 taking place in the Championship -performed their Dressage test today. With a remarkable score of 31.5 points,Germany’s path finder Ingrid Klimke riding the 10-year old gelding FRH Butts Abraxxs has established a commanding lead. She is a whole ten points ahead of runner up Joris Van Springel (BEL) on Bold Action (41.5). Twenty-three year old Tiziana Realini of Switzerland, for whom this is the first seniorEuropean championship, is third on Gamour CH only 0.4 points behind Van Springel (41.9).
Ingrid Klimke, who originally had been a reserve rider, was confirmed as member of the German team only very recently. This is the first four-star test for FRH Butts Abraxxs, with whom she won CCI 3* Strzegom (POL) in June and placed third in CIC 3* Thirlestane (GBR) in August. This very accurate and honest horse is in total harmony with his rider. He comes just in timein Ingrid’s career after her long-time champion Sleep Late, with whom she had won European bronze in 2005 and placed second at Badminton last year,was retired during a moving ceremony in her hometown of Münster only a day after Ingrid’s team selection had been confirmed.
Second placed Joris Van Springel of Belgium has been ill for the past few days but now is fully recovered. He was thrilled with today’s performance.“I’m very pleased with my Dressage test and result. Bold Action and I were here in April for the test event and that has really helped. He is really settled, a great result for us today.”
Just as was the case in Jumping and Dressage earlier this season, the 2007FEI European Eventing Championship is a qualifying event for the 2008Olympic Games. Qualification is open to the two best placed teams, excluding Germany, Great Britain and Sweden, who secured their spot last year at the FEI World Equestrian Games. Much is at stake and countries like France consider Olympic qualification a top priority.
“We are here to get a medal but more importantly, our focus is really on securing a spot at the Olympic Games. It’s going to be a team effort and that is what we are working towards,” says French team member Arnaud Boiteau. The French team have been training in Northern France – using the landscape and the sand to ensure optimal fitness training for the horses.
After two riders, the team results are as follows: 1. Germany: 79.02. Great Britain: 86.53. Italy: 94.04. France: 94.85. Belgium: 95.7
The following 14 nations have fielded teams: Austria, Belgium, Croatia,Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands,Poland, Russia, Switzerland and Sweden. The Swedish team is down to three riders following the unfortunate withdrawal of Sara Algotsson. She broke a bone in her foot when tripping awkwardly two days ago and has had it put in plaster.
14/09/2007 - FEI European Eventing Championship, Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA),12 - 16 September 2007Bravo Bettina
With a personal Dressage best of 27.1 with Ringwood Cockatoo, who at 16 is one of the oldest horses to compete in Pratoni, Germany’s Bettina Hoy takes the lead of the 2007 FEI European Eventing Championship. A much applauded performance by French rider Nicolas Touzaint on his grey gelding Galan de Sauvagère puts him in second place (29.4). Defending European and reigning world champion Zara Phillips on Toytown is third only 0.4 points behind Touzaint (29.8).
“This is the best score I have ever had with Ringwood Cockatoo,” Bettina said still surprised by her fantastic performance. “He was brilliant and I knew I really had to help him through today because he tipped over this morning and got a bit of a fright, but he was just brilliant, a cool customer and so brave. I was very lucky to compete today at all.
“I completely understand not being included in the team, and all the member shave been very active and successful this season – it was a fairly straightforward decision. It is a very different feeling to be riding as an individual rather than for the team. There’s also a greater freedom when you’re riding as an individual, so I can make the choices for RingwoodCockatoo and myself without any team orders, or chose when I go for the Dressage…”
Nicolas Touzaint was another happy rider. Galan de Sauvagère has been preparing consistently throughout the year for this championship and today’s result bears witness to the thoughtful planning. Preparation began early in the year with a national event followed by CIC-W 3* Fontainebleau which the pair won. They proceeded on to CCI 3* at Pratoni which served as the test event for this championship. “This was very helpful since we got acquainted with the surroundings and the particularly hilly Pratoni going.” Galan went on holiday to celebrate this new victory. In July the pair were the best at the CIC 3* Vittel which was followed by a national event they do every year.
Zara Phillips (GBR)and Toytown take second place after the cross country by Kit Houghton/FEI.
The camera of every photographer present at Pratoni was turned to Zara Phillips, who despite being the defending individual champion, does not feel under pressure. “I have lots of team support. Rome is one of the most beautiful places in the world and it is very exciting being here.”
Where the teams are concerned, Germany is in the lead (team score 102.3:Ingrid Klimke /FRH Butts Abraxxas (31.50); Frank Ostholt / Air Jordan 2(33.10); Hinrich Romeike / Marius Voigt Logistik (37.70); Peter Thomsen /The Gost of Hamish (47.50 – drop score).
They are followed by Great Britain (team score 108.6: Zara Phillips /Toytown (29.8); Mary King / Call Again Cavalier (36.5); Daisy Dick / Spring Along (42.3); Oliver Townend / Flint Curtis (44.2 – drop score).
France is in third place (team score 121.9: Nicolas Touzaint / Galan deSauvagère (29.8); Arnaud Boiteau / Expo du Moulin (43.5); Eric Vigeanel /Coronado Prior (49); Didier Hennin / Ismène du Temple (51.3 – drop score).
British team member Mary King, who scored 36.5, has happy memories ofPratoni, as she won individual bronze and team gold here in 1995 when she was five-months pregnant with her first child. Mary has been a member of the British team since 1991, winning three European team golds, world gold in1994 and Olympic silver in 2004. She was a member of the silver medal teamat the FEI World Equestrian Games last year on Call Again Cavalier who isowned by Janette Chinn & Sue and Eddie Davies. Unusually, they own two horses here, as they also own Irish team member Austin O’ Connor’s ride Hobby du Mee, who also competed at the 2003 FEI European Championship by Jean Teulère.
“I thought Call Again Cavalier would be nervous of the crowds – and when hegets nervous he retreats into himself – but this is one of the best tests Ihave done with him. He was very correct,” she said.
But nothing is cast in stone and much will depend on tomorrow’s CrossCountry.
All the riders, regardless of placing and nationality, are equally impressed by the hilly terrain and the bold design of Giuseppe Della Chiesa. The early fences are mostly single which can lull horse and rider into a false senseof security, so that the three- and four-element combinations at fence nine(the flower beds) and 11 (rifle range) come as a real shock.
Despite the fact that there has not been any rain since April, the going according to Zara Phillips “rides better than it looks.” The volcanic soil of Pratoni has consistently been worked upon with machines to help it retain its suppleness despite the draught. The 28-fence, 44-jumping effort track is6020m in length and the optimum time of 10min34 will be difficult to make even for the best ones.
Saturday 15 September will be an exciting day of Cross Country in the picturesque hills of Pratoni.
15/09/2007 - FEI European Eventing Championship, Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA),
12 - 16September 2007A Perfect Cross Country for Nicolas Touzaint
Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) and Galan de Sauvagère - the only rider today able to finish the course, all-clear within the time! Kit Houghton
At the end of a spectacular Cross Country day, which proved a genuine test of horsemanship and riding ability, France’s Nicolas Touzaint on Galan de Sauvagèretook the lead of the 2007 FEI European Eventing Championship. The only combination to make the optimum time, they finished on their Dressage score of 29.4. Zara Phillips (GBR) and Toytown picked up 2.8 penalties on the way and are in second place (32.6). Bettina Hoy (GER) and Ringwood Cockatoo are third (38.3).
It certainly was a memorable day. The hilly terrain of Pratoni, described by British team member Daisy Dick as ‘the Himalayas’, had been cleverly used by Course Dessigner Giuseppe Delle Chiesa, who after years of thought and effort, produced are markably testing yet safe course.
Only Nicolas Touzaint and Galan, who were unanimously applauded by their
peers,managed to make the optimum time of 10min34 (time for Touzaint 10min31).
They were the last pair on the track and had had time to evaluate the
difficulties the course presented and the mistakes the other riders had made. A
heavy blow for the French team was the elimination of Arnaud Boiteau and Expo du
Moulin, who after a very speedy and efficient beginning, were eliminated three
fences before the end. Team orders were then modified by chef d’équipe Thierry
Touzaint. The initial strategy of straight routes for everyone had been modified
to limit the risks while still aiming for individual leadership. “We went for
the direct route at fence nine[three-element combination – ‘flower beds’] but
took the alternative option at11 [a four-element combination set on a very
steep slope – ‘rifle range’].Both these fences were going to be tough – but you
had to take a risk if you wanted to beat the clock. In the end it proved to be a
really wise move,” NicolasTouzaint said.
Galan de Sauvagere and Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) - Cross Country Photo By Kit Houghton/FEI
In the team competition, Great Britain is well in the lead (119), followed by Germany (183.1) and France (208.9).
Team orders had also applied to the British riders. Daisy Dick was the pathfinder and despite finding the track ‘long and hard’, she had only 2.8 time penalties(score for Daisy after the Cross Country 45.10). “I lost the odd second here and there as there were questions all over the place,” she commented upon arrival.
Zara Phillips was the next team rider and had a fantastic round, which she qualified as ‘hard work’. “The ground was hard going for the horses. Mary and I had longroute instructions, so it was hard to get the time back. Toytown was a bit keen to start off with – but he held it together and was great,” Zara commented.
It was a first for Oliver Townend on the British team and despite 20 jumping and 4time faults (total of 68.2 – drop score), he was proud not only of his participation but also of being on the same team as “Europe’s three mostbeautiful girls.”
Mary King was the last rider and, being vastly experienced and team member at aEuropean championship since 1991, took the options decided upon by the chefd’équipe to finish on 41.3 with only 4.8 time faults.
Olympic qualification is the other subject on many participants’ minds. But asNicolas Touzaint says, “we can’t start celebrating just yet – there’s a bigday ahead of us tomorrow, so we’ve got to stay focused.”
Today’s Cross Country was also interesting in that a new concept of a yellowwarning flag on the course was implemented on a trial basis. Stewards werepositioned at stopping points or sector points on the Cross Country course with alarge yellow flag where on the instruction from the Ground Jury they could ask CrossCountry control to implement the waving of the yellow flag to a rider who had beenidentified as riding dangerously or riding an over-tired horse.
The yellow flag acted as a warning to riders that they were being observed. In thecases where the situation continued, riders were stopped from proceeding further onthe Cross Country by the waving of a red flag. This system was used on severaloccasions.
Credit for today’s success should of course go to the Course Designer, but also toAlbino Garbari, who had designed at Pratoni since 1960 and built this year’selegant course. But most of all, tribute should be paid to the horses who were braveand carried their riders with honesty. “I take my hat off to my horse,” DaisyDick said. “Why do they do it? I have no idea…”
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