Britain’s pony showjumpers continued their domination of the European Championships, taking team and individual gold – plus bronze – in Fontainebleau, France this weekend.
Fourteen-year-old Millie Allen, on her father’s nine-year-old bay mare, Song Girl took top spot on the podium.
The pair jumped double clears in the team competition and the first round of the grand prix, going into the decisive second round with a fence in hand.
Millie kept her cool after lowering a pole to jump round within the time to secure gold.
The Netherlands’ Lisa Nooren with Rock Dee Jay took silver, while 15-year-old Alex Chitty from Kent and his mother’s 10 year-old grey mare Amilie JR Z had to jump a third round to decide who would get bronze.
Alex – making his debut at Championship level – jumped the only clear to secure the medal.
Chef d’ ©quipe Katrina Moore described their performance as “superb”.
She said: “To secure two individual medal winners once again just shows what an incredible depth of talent we have within the sport.
“It is something we all, as a nation, should be incredibly proud of.”
There were celebrations in the Irish camp, too, as they took the pony eventing team title for the first time – along with individual gold and bronze.
The team established a narrow lead over the British on dressage day and never looked back. Pathfinder Cathal Daniels finished on his dressage mark of 45.2 with Master Murrose to take individual gold, while Ana O’Brien – daughter of Flat trainer Aidan – riding prolific winner Ice Cool Bailey, secured bronze.
Britain’s Louisa Nesbitt and Carrowmore Gemstone also finished on their dressage score to take silver, to add to Britain’s team silver ahead of The Netherlands in bronze.
In the dressage, Britain finished just outside the medals. Germany took team and freestyle gold and the Netherlands’ Sanne Vos the individual title.
Don’t miss H&H’s full report from the Pony Europeans in this week’s magazine, on sale Thursday 26 July
