The decision for the European Championship-title at the first U25 European Dressage Championships was a neck-and-neck race at the Hof Kasselmann in Hagen a.T.W. 41 duos, nine teams and eight more individual riders, participated at the “European Team Championships U25”. The teams from Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden were the ones to fight for the medals – with the team from the host country finally winning the gold medal.
Sanneke Rothenberger clearly outpaced her competitors and presented the best performances of all in the huge stadium at the Hof Kasselmann. The 23-year-old rider from Bad Homburg was the convincing winner, scoring 1,458 points (76.373%) with her 15-year-old Oldenburger Deveraux OLD by De Niro. Together with her team colleagues Juliette Piotrowski from Kaarst and Sir Diamond (72.658%), Florine Kienbaum from Lohmar with Doktor Schiwago (72.632%) and Nadine Husenbeth from Sottrum with Florida (72.526%), the German team clinched the gold medal – with a final result of 222.026%.„All dreams have come true,“ for Chef D’Equipe Monica Theodorescu, not only as regards this team result, but also the individual performances of the riders. Discipline trainer Jürgen Koschel was happy about the fantastic performance of “top rider” Sanneke Rothenberger, however, he also emphasized how proud he was of Piotrowski, Kienbaum and Husenbeth. “All three presented their best performances ever – this is extraordinarily good for a championship, more than ever at a debut.” Sanneke Rothenberger who showed the best presentation of the team with Deveraux OLD, knew that she could rely on her horse at championships: “He was in top form and was excellently fighting with me here in Hagen today.”
Silver went to the team from the Netherlands with Chef D’Equipe Johan Rocka whose four protégés shined as second best team. Anne Meulendijks with MDH Avanti, Stephanie Kooyman with Winston, Daniëlle Houtvast with Utah and Maxime Van Der Vlist with Bayley earned a final score of 218.947% in total, composed of the final mark of 74.421% for Meulendijks, 73.026% for Kooyman and 71.500% for Houtvast – Van Der Vilst, the first rider of the Dutch team, delivered the discarded score with 68.789%. “I am incredibly happy,” said head coach Rocka. “Unfortunately one of the girls made a mistake in the pirouette. The performances today are a good basis for the single medals tomorrow, and we want to launch a real attack.”
The team from Sweden with Chef D’Equipe Bo Jena and Tina Due Boje earned the bronze medal with a final score of 212.711%, featuring Josefin Gyllenswärd with Don Angelo (71.895%), Marina Mattsson with Beckham (71.737%), Mathilde Hannell with Deela Mae (69.079%) and Sanna Nilsson with Lennox (64.289%). “We had hoped for a medal and are even more happy that it worked out that well,” Due Boje happily said, and Jena added proudly: “Our second rider, Josefin Gyllenswärd, even achieved her personal best today.“ The teams from Denmark (209.316%), Spain (208.526%) and Great Britain (204.533%) followed in the ranking after the teams from Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, followed by Austria (204.421%), Russia (198.763%) and France (195.947%).