Germany, Denmark and Holland dominated the team championships at the ECCO FEI European Dressage Championships for Young Riders and Juniors 2011.
Germany was clearly in the lead all the way to the two gold medals in both junior- and young riders team competitions. Denmark and The Netherlands were in a close race for the silver- and bronze medals but in the end Denmark was the strongest and secured themselves silver medals on Danish soil.
Chef d´Equipe for the sublime German teams Maria-Schierhölter-Otte:
“The riders on the junior team are all new and haven´t got any experience in this kind of international championship. But all of them have got good horses and learned a lot during the past 3-4 months. With the Young Riders we were more experienced with both Louisa Lüttgen, Sanneke Rothenberger and Charlott- Maria Schürmann, though Charlott- Maria Scürmann is on a new horse, after the one she had last year was sold to Denmark. This start for us of course is very fine and I'm sure that the next days will bring a lot of good sport and fair riding. This has been a very good championship, the organiser have done well, the stables are fine and we are very happy to be here.
Chef d´Equipe for the Danish teams Hans Christian Mathiesen was very pleased with the Danish performances:
The teams performed super today. They showed confident riding and were good prepared for this competition. I think the fact that we are in close contact with the riders already when they are competing in the ponies division makes the difference and has turned them into silver medalists today. Only young rider Rikke Bøllingtoft has competed previously in a young rider FEI European Championship. The rest of the riders are debutants in the young rider team at an FEI European Championship – so their performance is very much approved today ” says Hans Christian Mathiesen.
Chef d´Equipe for the Dutch teams Tineke Bartels were a little bit disappointed about the mistakes that costed them the silver medals:
”We are happy to be on the podium but honestly we thought we could do better today. The junior team is usually stronger than what they showed today. Our junior profile Stephanie Koijmann could have done over 70 % today but mistakes in the beginning of her ride unfortunately made the difference today. We knew it was difficult in the young rider competition but we got some experience today that will make us better next time. I am confident that the riders will use this to get even more motivated for the individual competitions. The Danes really earned it today – I´m very happy for them and think that it is very good for the competition.
GOLD MEDAL FOR GERMANY IN THE JUNIOR TEAM EVENT
The German team was in the lead all the way in the junior team competetion and won the gold medal today at ECCO FEI European Dressage Championships for Young Riders and Juniors 2011.
Pia-Katharina Voigtländer delivered the best result of the day with a total score of 73,622 %.
Denmark and The Netherlands were in a close race for the silver- and bronzemedals. Denmark won that fight and brought home the silver medal