Young Dutch athletes proved the dominant force at the Longines FEI European Championships 2018 for Children, Juniors and Young Riders which drew to a close at Le Grand Parquet in Fontainebleau, France yesterday. However the host nation claimed all the top honours in Eventing while Germany, Ireland, Great Britain and Belgium also grabbed gold.

Children

The Dutch gold-rush began with victory in Children’s Team Dressage where Lilli van den Hoogen (Woodstock), Lara van Nek (Fariska), Sanne van der Pols (Excellentie) and Sanne Buijs (Happy Feet) pinned their German rivals into silver medal spot by a two-point margin while France claimed the bronze. Dutch Chef d’Equipe, Monique Peutz said she felt “20 years older!” after the team competition, but there was plenty more to come. Underpinning the supremacy of The Netherlands side, the 13-year-olds Buijs and van Nek went on to clinch individual gold and silver, and it was the second year in a row for Buijs to take double-gold. Germany’s Kenya Schwierking (Dinos Boy) lined up third for bronze.

In Children’s Team Jumping it was Germany’s Charlotte Hoing (Bajala), Mikka Roth (Caboto), Mick Haunhorst (Conquest) and Chiara Reyer (Cederic) who reigned supreme, finishing on a four-fault total ahead of Ireland in silver medal spot with eight, and Belgium in bronze on 13 faults. And there were plenty of happy Irish faces when 14-year-old Rhys Williams literally cruised to gold medal spot in the individual classification with a foot-perfect run through three tough competitions with CES Cruson.

Advertisement