British pony riders dominate in Poland

The winning British team of Graham Babes, Jessica Mendoza
(individual bronze), Amy Inglis and Beth Vernon, who also
won individual gold. By FEI/Helen Revington

By Louise Parkes

British riders took team and individual gold and bronze at the FEI European Pony Championships 2011 staged at Jaszkowo, Poland, from 26 to 31 July 2011.

The team championship was an exciting and close-fought affair, with just one fault separating the victorious British from the fighting Irish at the end of the day, while the Dutch were much further adrift when claiming bronze.

No-fault first round
The British had the whip hand after the first round with clears from all four riders, and the Irish were five faults in arrears while having to count a single time penalty from Max O'Reilly-Hyland (Rock Dee Jay) and an additional four faults when both Michael Duffy (Kadia Mouche) and anchor Emma O'Dwyer (Jacknell Street) left one on the floor.

But British pathfinder Amy Inglis (Nils D Hurl Vent) picked up 12 faults second time out, and although second-line rider Beth Vernon (Falaza) completed a double-clear, both Graham Babes (Dollar Girl) and Jessica Mendoza (Tixylix) made a single mistake to bring their tally to eight.

Bertram Allen had opened the Irish account with a first-round clear from Acapella Z, but this time they returned with four faults on the board. And despite great second-round clears from both Max and Emma, they were obliged to count four more when Michael also made a single error. That single first-round time fault from Max proved expensive in the final analysis.

Climbing Dutch
The Dutch meanwhile rocketed up from sixth at the halfway stage to take the bronze. Jens Van Grunsven, nephew of dressage legend Anky Van Grunsven, recovered from a 12-fault opening round on Indorado to go clear second time out. Amber Fijen (Winning Mood) picked up five in round one and four next time out. Leon Tine Bruin (Scapa SB) made just a single mistake in round one but collected 17 on his return to the arena. Megan Laseur (Ensilla) followed a five-fault first effort with a clear to leave The Netherlands with a total of 18 faults.

Individual title
The individual championship came down to a six-way jump-off between Great Britain's Beth Vernon, Graham Babes and Jessica Mendoza; Ireland's Bertram Allen and Emma O'Dwyer and Justine Tebbel, daughter of top German rider Rene Tebbel.

Jessica and Tixylix set the target as second to go, returning a clear in 30.40 seconds, but team-mate Beth bettered that as fourth into the ring with Falaza, who scorched home in 29.88 seconds. Bertram and the speedy Acapella Z did their best, but couldn't quite match the target with a time of 30.38 seconds. Emma just missed out on a medal when home and clear in 30.48 seconds for fourth spot as Beth claimed the gold, Bertram took silver and Jessica bronze.

Results
Team: Gold - Great Britain 8 faults: Nils D Hurl Vent (Amy Inglis) 0/12, Falaza (Beth Vernon) 0/0, Dollar Girl (Graham Babes) 0/4, Tixylix (Jessica Mendoza) 0/4; Silver - Ireland 9 faults: Acapella Z (Bertram Allen) 0/4, Rock Dee Jay (Max O'Reilly-Hyland) 1/0, Kadia Mouche (Michael Duffy) 4/4, Jacknells Street (Emma O'Dwyer) 4/0; Bronze - The Netherlands 18 faults: Indorado (Jens Van Grunsven) 12/0, Winning Mood (Amber Fijen) 5/4, Scapa SB (Leon Tine Bruin) 4/17, Ensilla (Megan Laseur) 5/0

Individual: Gold Falaza (Beth Vernon) GBR 0/29.88; Silver - Acapella Z (Bertram Allen) IRL 0/30.38; Bronze - Tixylix (Jessica Mendoza) GBR 0/30.40.