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‘She was class’: Joe Stockdale boosts Great Britain’s hopes at the European Showjumping Championships

Jennifer Donald Jennifer Donald

    • Championship debutant Joe Stockdale, 21, suffered the agony of jumping clear until the final fence on day one of the European Showjumping Championships in Germany, coming home with just four faults.

    The back rail of the last oxer, approached off a sharp turn, hit the floor but with just four penalties to add his time, this was a competitive first round score of 79.65. Joe did a sterling job of boosting Great Britain’s standings in the team competition with just William Whitaker (Galtur) left to jump.

    Joe and the 10-year-old mare Equine America Cacharel looked in perfect harmony as they tackled Frank Rothenberger’s track in Wednesday’s opening leg of the European Showjumping Championships.

    “She jumped fantastic,” said Joe of the mare, known at home as “Cash”. “She felt a million dollars. [The final fence] was just frustrating. She only just caught it, it’s quite wide. That’s probably the widest oxer on the course and she just spun up to it – this is a different level for both of us, in fairness.

    “So I’ve got to be pleased – she jumped really well and I was quite pleased with how I rode it. There were no major major disasters so I’m chuffed to bits.”

    Talking about the course on the opening leg of the European Showjumping Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany, Joe said: “It was alright actually – when you walked it you thought that there were quite a few careful fences in there. The doubles are tough enough and things like that. So the course was definitely asking a few questions. It’s going get tougher, obviously, throughout the week.

    “It’s a good start to build on and I’m very pleased. It’s easy to be frustrated [by four faults], but she jumped class.”

    Pathfinder Georgia Tame produced a solid opening round to start for Great Britain at the European Showjumping Championships while second rider Emily Moffitt added 12 faults to a quick time.

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    Jennifer Donald
    Jennifer Donald

    H&H showjumping editor
    Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.
    Jennifer Donald

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