It has been a simply outstanding day of cross country riding round Eric Winter’s courses from our Team NAF British riders at the European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders.

In front of a home crowd at Hartpury University and Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, each one of our riders representing Great Britain under the title sponsor banner of Team NAF delivered a brilliant performance to leave the Young Rider team in the gold medal position and the Junior team in silver, just one mark behind the Germans.

Britain’s Young Riders in double gold medal positions

In the European Championship for Young Riders supported by Commscope Ruckus the time proved incredibly influential, with just four rounds inside the time recorded throughout the whole competition. We are hugely proud that three of these rounds came from our Team NAF British team riders, with the fourth achieved by Ireland’s Sadhbh Bolger.

As pathfinders for the British team, Alice Casburn and Topspin were one of the first combinations to take on Eric Winter’s challenging track, which required brave and bold riding. The pair flew round the course to post one of the fastest times of the day and give a boost of confidence to the rest of the Team NAF British riders.

Ibble Watson and Aristoteles S Z were next on course, adding 8.4 time penalties to their dressage mark to leave them on a score of 37.8 and in eleventh place individually.

Millie Juleff and All We Need overcame a hold out on track to deliver a superb clear round. They became the second British combination to stop the clock inside the optimum time, staying on their dressage score of 31.4 and moving up into the individual silver medal position.

“He was just amazing. He was flying and felt so good,” said Millie after her round.

“It’s amazing,” she added of her individual silver medal position. “It obviously puts the pressure on for tomorrow but he’s a great jumper, so fingers crossed.”

“He was so cool the whole way round,” said Phoebe. “He saved me a few times, especially at the last! It wasn’t very pretty but we made it round and today isn’t a day when you’re meant to be pretty, that was yesterday. I couldn’t be happier. He got tired towards the end so I slightly took my leg off as I knew I wanted to round and get that clear round.

“I’m excited to be going into tomorrow in the lead. I’m a bit of a weird one; I like to react to pressure a bit, so fingers crossed for tomorrow.”

Our other combination competing as an individual, Polly Muirhead and Penhill Touch of Class, added just two 2.4 time penalties to their dressage mark to be lying on a score of 38.2 in twelfth.

It was a great performance all round for our Team NAF Young Riders, with all six British combinations placed in the Top 12 after cross country.

Juniors keep hold of team and individual silver medal positions

Our Junior team remain in the silver medal positions at the European Championship for Juniors supported by Hartpury University, after all four team members delivered quick clear rounds – three of which were inside the optimum time. The team are now just one mark behind the Germans as we head into tomorrow’s show jumping.

Team pathfinders, Finn Healy and Fathers Compromise got us off to a great start. They finished the day on their dressage score of 31.1 and well-placed in seventh position individually.

“She was amazing,” said Finn after their round. “I’m so over the moon. I was really nervous this morning because there’s a lot of pressure being first out. I wanted to make sure I got a clear home for the team to get us off to a good start and I’ve done that, so I’m really chuffed.”

Grace Donnor and Cooley Ramiro were the second of the team riders out on course. They picked up just 4.4 time faults to give them a score of 34.9 and leave them lying inside the Top 2o in eighteenth place.

Jasmine Underwood and Indian Girl G were another combination to come home clear inside the optimum time. The stayed on their dressage score of 31.1 – the same score as teammate Finn Healy and Fathers Compromise in seventh. Jasmine moves a place ahead in sixth though, with her round being slightly closer to the optimum time.

You could feel the excitement in the home crowd as Isabelle Cook and Mexican Law began their round. The anchor leg of the British Junior team and lying in the silver medal position, there was a lot to play for in their round. If they were feeling the pressure Isabelle and Mexican Law didn’t show it as they brought it home for the team – finishing the cross country on their brilliant dressage score of 26.6 and remaining in the silver medal position.

“She was amazing from start to finish,” said Isabelle. “I just kept moving the whole way round to try and get the time and she just cruised round. It was such a lovely course and everything just came up really well for me.

“The team’s in such a strong position, so fingers crossed going into tomorrow that everything goes to plan.”

Our individual riders also did a fabulous job, both coming home clear inside the time. Holly Clarke and Nico are lying sixth with a score of 30.5 and Jaymee Savill and Grange Ash Sparrow, eleventh with 32.2.

“I couldn’t be more delighted for them,” said Youth Performance Manager, Darrell Scaife speaking of the Junior team’s performance. “We’ve had six clear rounds, five of them inside the time. They were really competent and capable at their job, so for me it was a very straight forward morning!

“It’s been a really great afternoon after a really wonderful morning,” he added after the Young Riders performance. “The Juniors set off and the Young Riders really followed them. They had a plan, they stuck to their plan, they were very clear about what they wanted to do. It’s their competition and there are medals to win and they were very hungry to fight for them.”

“What’s been really wonderful to see is that these two squads have really become one team. I’m really chuffed. It’s a strong position to be in. We’ve still got a lot of work to do tomorrow but I’m really pleased with everybody.”

Get set for tomorrow’s finale

Tomorrow’s show jumping promises to be a real thriller! Tickets are still available, so if you don’t live too far from Hartpury get yourselves along to support the team and hopefully see our Team NAF riders get on that podium.

The second horse inspection takes place at 8am tomorrow morning for the Juniors, followed by the Young Riders at 9am.

Action gets underway in the show jumping for the Juniors at 10.30am, with the medal ceremony at 1pm.

The Young Rider show jumping starts at 2.15pm, with the medal ceremony at 4.30pm.

You will be able to find all start times for tomorrow’s show jumping and follow live results here.

Don’t forget, you will be able to watch all the show jumping action live courtesy of Clip My Horse here.

British Eventing would like to thank NAF, title sponsors of the Junior and Young Rider Eventing Teams. Thanks also go to Event Collection, Fairfax & Favor, Holland Cooper Equestrian, LeMieux, Racesafe Equestrian and Welligogs who are further supporting the teams with kit.