Accenture Young Riders Battle for Bronze in Prague
Friday, July 18, 2008
Britain’s Accenture Young Rider team have taken the Bronze medal this afternoon at the 2008 FEI European Championship for Young Riders in Prague, after a jump off with France.
Fifteen teams took part in today’s competition, and after a nail biting two rounds, Great Britain were holding equal third place with France, meaning a jump off would be required to decide the final medal position. The British contingent held their nerve and produced three faultless rounds in the jump off to secure the Bronze medal.
Having won Team Gold and Individual Bronze Medals in 2004 and 2007 and Team Silver in 2003, Gemma Plumley from Chepstow, Gwent and Johnsey Estate’s Lutine du Charmois, demonstrated their depth of experience having just a singe fence down in the second round and jumping clear in the first round and the jump off. Ryan Prater riding Whisker, a nine-year old bay stallion co-owned by Ryan and Suzanne Heath lowered just one fence to finish the first round on four penalties, twelve penalties in the second and jumped a clear in the jump off. Hannah Paul riding Simon Paul’s Sirius III lowered a pole in the first round and then went on to jump clear in both the second round and the jump off. William Whitaker riding Ian Whitaker’s Sarlino had four penalties in both the first and second rounds and as the three clears from his fellow Team mates had already secured the Bronze medal for Great Britain, William was not required to take part in the jump off.
Switzerland took the Gold medal with The Netherlands in silver medal position.
2008 FEI European Show Jumping Championship for Young Riders Team Final
- Gold Switzerland
- Silver The Netherlands
- Bronze Great Britain
(Ryan Prater Whisker 4/12/0
(Gemma Plumley Lutine du Charmois 0/4/0
(Hannah Paul Sirius III 4/0/0
(William Whitaker Sarlino 4/4/ns
