NEWs

Fairytale Gold for Yasmin Ingham at FEI World Championships

Yasmin Ingham has secured a fairytale win with Banzai du Loir as they take the Individual Gold medal at the FEI World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy.

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir are World Champions! (image Shannon Brinkman)

Yasmin, aged 25 and based in Cheshire, took the win after posting a superb showjumping clear aboard Sue Davies and Janette Chin’s 11-year-old Banzai Du Loir. She is the first rider to win an individual title on her championship debut since Zara Tindall took the European Championship on Toytown in 2005.

Olympic champions Julia Krajewski and Amande De B’Neville took individual silver for Germany, while New Zealand’s Tim Price won bronze on London 2012 cross-country course-designer Sue Benson’s Falco.

But golden glory belongs to British individual rider Yasmin, nine years after she won double gold for Britain at the Pony European Championships, also in Italy.

That podium moment for Yasmin Ingham (image, FEI / Richard Juilliart)

She said: “Words can’t describe how I am feeling right now! I went in there and tried to block everything else out. I was under a heap of pressure in silver medal position after cross-country with only Michael Jung [who hit two fences and dropped to fifth] to go and I didn’t think he would make any mistakes. But he [Michael] is not a robot and I’m just delighted that my horse tried his absolute best and jumped the best round he’s ever jumped. He kept listening to me all the way round the course and it’s an absolute dream finish to this event. I never thought this would happen – it’s amazing to be here with the British team and I am so grateful to the World Class programme, my trainers, family, and especially my owners -w without them I would not be here and I’m just so glad we delivered today.”

Ros Canter, herself winner of the World Championship title in Tryon, USA four years ago, finished fourth on Michele Saul’s 10-year-old Lordships Graffalo, completing on her dressage score.

Ros said: “It was very nerve-racking today, but he’s been phenomenal all week. He needs this atmosphere – he thrives on it. It was great that the person before me showjumped clear and everyone cheered, because it just brought him up a little beat in a nice way and he relishes this kind of atmosphere, so I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s a true athlete, a true event horse and long may it continue. This was a very tough showjumping track with lots of decisions to make, and that’s always a challenge mentally; I’m pleased I was able to make up my mind and stick to that plan.”

Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser touched one fence and finished 12th, while Oliver and Ballagmor Class were 16th. Laura Collett and London 52 also rolled one pole and finished 40th out of the 88 competitors to start this World Championships.

The team title went to Germany, with the USA in Silver and New Zealand in Bronze. So strong was the competition, less than one penalty separated the teams in second to fourth. The British team narrowly missed out on a medal by just 0.2 of a penalty to finish in fourth but successfully completed the task that was set to them, which was to bring home an all-important Olympic qualifying ticket.

For full results, click here.

The funding that the British Equestrian World Class Programme receives from the National Lottery and UK Sport is pivotal in preparing our teams for senior championships and supporting them on the ground.

British Equestrian is also extremely grateful for the support we enjoy from our partners – Bates Saddles, Dodson & Horrell, Fairfax & Favor, Haygain, NAF and Toggi – and team suppliers – Equi-Trek, Horseware, Lotus Romeo, Marksway Horsehage and Point Two. We’re indebted for the year-round support they provide to the World Class Programme and British teams, which helps us to best prepare for senior championships.

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