Solid start for Great Britain at the European Showjumping Championships

Great Britain’s bid for glory in the European Showjumping Championships began this morning with a solid opening round from pathfinder Georgia Tame on Z7 Ascot.

The 23-year-old had the daunting task of jumping first from a field of 65 in the opening leg of this championship in Riesenbeck, Germany, and came home with just four faults at an early oxer to add to her time for a score of 91.62.

The 2021 European Showjumping Championships is Georgia’s senior championship debut and she received some words of advice from her trainer Shane Breen as she entered the ring with Team Z7’s son of Non Stop, bred in Ireland by Marion Hughes.

The pair looked to relish the challenge of Frank Rothenberger’s track – which has been throwing up faults from start to finish – producing a smooth and polished performance with just one rail down, much to the delight of Great Britain’s performance manager Di Lampard and her three team-mates at the European Showjumping Championships.

Georgia Tame is followed into the ring today by Emily Moffitt (Winning Good), Joe Stockdale (Equine America Cacharel) and William Whitaker (Galtur) for today’s opening leg of five rounds. The championship continues on Thursday, with the team medals being decided on Friday before the individual final on Sunday (5 September).

Sweden, who claimed team gold at the Olympics last month, come into these European Showjumping Championships as red hot favourites while Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs arrives in Germany as the reigning individual European champion.

You may also be interested to read…

Britain first into the arena as European Showjumping Championships start

How to watch the European Showjumping Championships live – your full guide for 2021

European Showjumping Championships: medal predictions and ones to watch

Georgia Tame’s jet set showjumper blog: five shows and a Windsor win

Georgia has been flat out competing in the UK and in Europe — here she gives us a tour around

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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.