British Junior eventing team bags bronze at Europeans

Britain’s Racesafe Junior team have successfully defended their 2015 bronze medal, after taking the honours again at the FEI Junior and Young rider European Eventing Championships in Montelibretti, Italy.

A total score of 143.5pen wasn’t enough to beat the defending champions Germany, while a strong performance from the French saw them claim silver.

Somerset rider Phoebe Locke and the eight-year-old gelding Union Fortunus achieved the best dressage score for the Brits on 43.5pen. The team – Phoebe Locke (Union Fortunus), Bubby Upton (Eros DHI), Felicity Collins (RSH Contendor) and Richard Coney (Kananaskis) all went onto to attain clear cross-country rounds that were inside the optimum time.

However, the places remained unaltered throughout the three phases and the British quartet had to settle for third spot on the podium.

Chelsea Pearce (Albert VI) was the best of the Brits individually, finishing on her dressage score of 45.6pen to rank eighth.

There was more success for France and Germany as they took team gold and silver respectively in the Young Rider championships. Host country Italy bagged the bronze medal.

Unfortunately Great Britain could only manage fifth place finish after collecting faults on the tough cross-country track – which saw only three clears posted from the 58 starting combinations.

Last year’s individual champion Will Furlong (Livingstone) retired on course and both India Wishart (The Masters Harry) and Elia Hitchman (Rocky Rockstar) accumulated time faults, which meant all hopes of a medal for Team GB’s Young Riders were lost.

Full for results from the FEI European Eventing Championships for Juniors and Young riders click here.