Double silver for Brits at Pony Europeans

Britain has won two silver medals at the 2014 FEI Pony European Eventing Championships, held at Millstreet Horse Show in Ireland.

‘Wildest dreams’

Isabelle Upton put in a great performance with Alfi XI, adding nothing to her dressage score of 38.30pen to win silver. French rider Victor Levecque won gold (34.40pen), while Italy’s Maria Sole Girardi took bronze (41.30pen).

“I still can’t quite believe it, but my pony was class all week, I couldn’t have asked any more of him,” said Isabelle. “I knew he had the potential to win a medal but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would actually happen.”

Team silver

All three members of the British team went clear on the cross-country and the showjumping, with Thomas Tullochadding just one time fault in the final phase for a total team score of 141pen. It wasn’t quite enough to beat the French, who won gold with 134.2pen, but they finished well ahead of the Italian team who went home with bronze (150.8pen).

Oliver Williams finished sixth onboard Bobnamara, Thomas was 12th with Spirit VI,and individual rider Phoebe Locke came 22nd riding Mr Otto. Unfortunately, the other two individual riders Chelsea Pearce and Chloe Bell were both eliminated on the cross-country.

Very proud

“They all performed out of their skins today,” said Gary Parsonage, Charles Ownen chair of the GB pony selectors. “There was a lot of pressure, particularly for ‘Bubby’ [Isabelle] as last of our team to show jump.

“I’m very proud of all six of the riders this week.It makes a big difference when they all work so well together.”