Fontainebleau, France – July 14, 2018 – Exciting competition in Fontainebleau at the Longines FEI European Junior and Young Rider Dressage Championships presented by Devoucoux continued on Saturday, crowning the Individual Test Medalists. Daphne van Peperstraten from the Netherlands maintained her lead in the Junior competition, claiming the Individual Test medal with a score of 74.471 percent aboard Cupido, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding.
It was a close competition among the top three combinations, but van Peperstraten took home her second gold medal of the championship when she remained consistent and came out on top in Saturday’s competition.
“This is my second year of competition with Cupido,” van Peperstraten said. “We know each other well. These are also my fourth European Championships, so my experience helps me manage the pressure. Today, my horse was really focused and with me. We made two small mistakes, but we kept a very good score. I love the Freestyle Test so I cannot wait to compete again tomorrow.”
German rider Valentina Pistner earned the silver medal in the Individual Test with a score of 74.088 percent. Having only started a partnership with her 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding mount Flamboyant OLD seven months ago, she was thrilled with her placing.
“We won a Team medal yesterday but today is my first Individual medal,” Pistner explained. “It’s great, I did not expect such a good result—at the beginning of the year, we did not even expect to be here, so it’s really amazing!”
“The movements of Flamboyant are very ample and he is very expressive,” she continued. “He is also very calm and always wants to do well. He is fantastic.”
Fellow German rider Romy Allard was awarded the bronze medal in the Individual championship aboard Summer Rose, a 9-year-old Oldenburg mare, with a score of 74 percent to complete the podium placings.
In the Young Rider Individual Test, Esmee Donkers of the Netherlands came out on top with the gold medal, scoring a 77.294 percent with Chaina, an 11-year-old KWPN mare.
Fellow Dutch rider Febe van Zwambagt took the silver with a score of 74.824 percent, riding the 11-year-old Rhinelander gelding FS Las Vegas. Lia Welschof of Germany and the 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding Don Windsor OLD took the bronze with a score of 74.676 percent.
Competition at the Longines FEI European Junior and Young Rider Dressage Championships will resume tomorrow, July 15, with the Freestyle Final.