Fontainebleau, France – July 12, 2018 – The FEI Juniors division of the Longines FEI European Dressage Championships, hosted at the Stade du Grand Parquet in Fontainebleau, France, concluded with the Dutch team winning the team gold medal with a total score of 219.757. The junior teams from Germany and Denmark rounded out the podium.
Taking the lead in the individual standings with a final average of 75.909 percent aboard her 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood Greenpoint’s Cupido, Daphne Van Peperstraten was delighted with the result and paid tribute to the country’s Eventing coach, Jan van Beek, who passed away Monday. She was joined by her teammates, Kimberly Pap on Vloet Victory, Thalia Rockx on Golden Dancer De La Fazenda and Milou Dees on Francesco.
“I managed to ride as I had hoped for and I got a great score,” she said. “I am happy with this victory and also to take the lead in the Individual ranking. We started this championship with a lot of sadness after the death of Jan van Beek, but it brought the team together and made us stronger. We did our best to honor him today. Now we’re going to drink champagne!”
Team Germany earned the silver medal with their top scoring rider, Romy Allard finishing the class in second place on Summer Rose with a score of 73.667 percent. Valentina Pisnter on Flamboyant OLD, Marlene Sieverding on Fuerst Levantino, and Linda Erbe on DSP Fierro made up the remaining team positions to give Germany an overall score of 216.816.
Rounding out the podium with the team bronze medal with a total of 209.515 was Denmark. The team consisted of Sara Aagard Hyrm on Skovborgs Romandinov, Maria Mejlgaard Jensen on Uno IV, Laura Jarlkvist Rasmussen on Aatoftens Dornier and Louise Christensen on Quadriga’s Fuerstenqueen.
After having had to settle for a silver medal in the FEI Juniors division at the Longines FEI European Dressage Championship, Germany came out on top to see its FEI Young Rider team crowned the champion of Europe ahead of the Netherlands and Sweden.
With a total of 222.529 points and three routines scored above 70 percent, the German team was flawless against its main rivals. Paulina Hozknecht was the highest placing German rider, finishing in overall second place, with a 74.941 percent on Wells Fargo. She was joined by Semmieke Rothenberger on Geisha who finished in third individually, Lia Welschof on Don Windsor OLD and Alexa Westendarp on Four Seasons.
Dutch rider Esmee Donkers was awarded the highest score of all the competitors with a 77.264 percent allowing her squad to secure the second highest place on the podium with a 221.41 and add a silver to the country’s medal count. Her fellow teammates were Febe van Zwambagt on FS Las Vegas, Laura Quint on Edison and Diana Van de Bovenkamp on Evita Ronia.
“I am very proud of my horse! I’ve been riding it for about two years and I’m so happy and excited,” Donkers said. “I don’t have words to describe my feelings.”
With a total of 212.792 points, two points ahead of Russia, Sweden claimed third place at the event. The team was made up by Lina Dolk on Languedoc, Sofie Andersson on CSI, Evelina Soderstrom on Weihenstephaner and Ebba Kjellberg on Boegegardens Limbery.