Adding to Team GB’s incredible Olympic medal haul across the three disciplines in Paris, the Pony riders played their part by bringing home team bronze from the FEI Pony European Eventing Championships in Germany.
The squad of Florence Drewitt with Crossgales Into The Blu, Arabella Henderson with Our Billy Eile, Ella Howard with Midnight Mist III and Annabel Ridgway with Akim De L’arquerie pulled out all the stops on the final day, despite torrential rain the night before, to move up from fifth after cross-country to team Bronze position. What an achievement!
In the individual ranks, Arabella’s clear round in the show jumping saw her move up from 16th place to finish highest placed Brit in sixth on a score of 35.4. Annabel finished 11th with a score of 41.4, while Florence’s score of 42.5 moved her up from 19th to 13th. Individual rider Maisie Greening with Kilnaspic Lily finished in 23rd with a score of 63, followed by Ella in 25th on 65.1. Sofia Paul and Man In The Mirror scored 75.9 for 27th place.
Arabella commented: “I have had the most awesome time with all of the British Team. Mabel has felt incredible all week, making light of the beautiful cross-country course yesterday, and today she was full of running to jump a mega clear round show jumping. The team all put in amazing performances, and to step up onto the podium with them was a moment I’ll never forget. It definitely hasn’t sunk in yet! I can’t thank the GB squad and all the crew behind the scenes enough for all their expertise and support, as this really is a dream come true! A special mention to my home coach Sarah Way who came to watch and support us. It’s been three years of hard work to this point, so to share the moment with her and my family was very special indeed.”
Ella said of her experience: “I’m delighted. It’s my third Europeans and although individually it didn’t go to plan, I’m delighted to finally win a medal after being very close the last two times. It has been a week I won’t forget with great teammates and a massive thank you to Milly [Kruger], Nicola [Wilson] and everybody else from British Eventing who made it possible.”
Florence commented: “Thank you so much to BE for such an amazing week especially Milly, Nicola, Sam, Annabel and Michelle! To get a medal at my first Europeans after 3 years of hardwork with the most incredible pony was a dream come true!!
Annabel said: “We had the most amazing time. I had an incredible ride cross-country and it was so brilliant to win a medal!”
British Eventing CEO, Rosie Williams, added: “We are extremely proud of the team. They have clearly demonstrated the depth of talent we have within the sport from those competing in Paris through to those that are just starting out on their team journey. Giving youth riders the opportunity to grow and develop into senior riders of the future is something that is very important to us, and when you see them perform with medal-winning success like they have, it makes it all worthwhile. Congratulations once again to all riders and the support team.”
Congratulations to all our Pony riders.
The squad was supported in Westerstede by Performance Coach, Nicola Wilson, Performance Vet, Sam Offord, Performance Equine Physiotherapist, Annabel Galt and Chef d’Equipe, Camilla Kruger.
The team was further supported by Racesafe who supplied riders with a new body protector. Racesafe body protectors offer the latest European and BETA standards of protection at market-leading comfort and weight levels. More on Racesafe products can be found by visiting their website here.
Full results from the 2024 FEI Pony European Championships can be found here
Image in graphic courtesy of Annette Dodger.
