A rather unusual victory for the Dutch in the Juniors’ Grand Prix…

It was a first for the international young riders’ festival Future Champions in Hagen a.T.W.: The young winner of the Juniors’ Grand Prix at the CSIOJ in Hagen a.T.W. was sitting in hospital in Osnabrück at precisely the moment he should have been taking his place in the presentation ceremony, while his team coach Roelof Bril stood in for him.

Kevin Jochems, a 17 year old from the Netherlands was the only rider who managed to make his circuit without any penalty points, completing it in 76.06 seconds with his Holstein mare Ma Cherie, but then he fell. The only reason his circuit still counted was because his fall took place after he crossed the finish line.

The fall was caused by Ma Cherie’s martingale. While the mare immediately got back up onto her feet, Kevin stayed sitting down, somewhat dazed, and was taken to the clinic in Osnabrück as a precaution. The rule, whereby the rider must leave the arena on the horse, was not applicable. Judge Alfred K. Boll from Switzerland: “After a fall, that simply wouldn’t be safe. We couldn’t have allowed it. No-one knew for sure whether the rider had any injuries.”

Shortly before the presentation ceremony, word came from the hospital that Kevin Jochems had not suffered any injuries, but would have to stay in hospital overnight for observation. Ma Cherie also managed to avoid injury.

Michael Duffy from Ireland took second place with Murchu, and Francisco Mendes Rosa from Portugal came third with D Marinero, both with time penalties. The top-placing German rider was Leonie Krieg from Villingen-Schwenningen with Champerlo, in fifth place.

The penultimate day of the international young riders’ festival Future Champions at Hof Kasselmann had begun with a British show-jumping victory. 15 year-old Faye Adams won the international two-phase test for pony riders with Cisco Bay II.

A few hours later 13 year-old French rider Nina Mallevaey achieved a win in the Grand Prix for the children’s age group, ahead of Irish rider Susan Fitzpatrick with Petrus Spartacus and Adam Carey from Sweden with Flamingo Fly. 69 children from 14 different countries competed in this relatively new age class, making a powerful impression…