FEI Pony European Championships: day one

With all nations welcomed in a fantastic opening ceremony last night in the Morawa hippodrome, two British European Championship debutants took to the arena today for the first part of the team medal competition at Strzegom in Poland.

Pathfinder for Great Britain, at 10.24 (09:24 BST), was Lauren Geraghty (16) making her championship debut on board her own WS Jackson (Chiskin Jaguar x His Highness). In the sunshine-bathed Morawa hippodrome, the 16-year-old from Derbyshire presented a super test, riding her pony with skill and precision in front of judges Alban Tissot (FRA) at E, Agnieszka Majewska (POL) at H, Carlo Lopes (POR) at C, Barbara Ardu (ITA) at M and Isobel Wessels (GBR) at B.

Their score sheet featured plenty of sevens awarded, including across the board for general impression, and an eight for the 11-year-old chestnut gelding’s extended walk. The judges panel arrived at a final score of 67.114% - an admirable performance on this duo’s first-time championship appearance and an optimistic way to start their week.

The second British rider to take to the stage was championship first-timer Sofia Games with Katie Oliver-Games’ 14-year-old black gelding Next Black Magic (Nabucco R x FS Pour L’Amour). A test showing super highlights, including lovely balance through the canter tour and simple changes, picked up a number of eights, including for general impression, to conclude with a final score of 71.486% from the panel putting them provisional fourth.

Following the development of the overnight leader board, Sofia enjoys provisional seventh place in the individual standings, with Lauren sitting 22nd. The leader board is provisionally topped by Germany’s Mia Allegra Lohe and Tovdals Golden Future Imperial who produced a test earning an impressive 75.400%. Germany’s team sits atop the team podium provisionally, with Great Britain holding sixth, but there’s everything to play for going into the second part of the team medal competition tomorrow.

Ruby Hughes and Mette Dahl begin their week at the FEI European Championships tomorrow at their respective times of 10:32 (09:32 BST) and 13:46 (12:46 BST). Click here for details of how to watch follow the competition live.

Pony team standings
1. Germany – 148.343
2. Netherlands – 147.772
3. Denmark – 144.229
4. Belgium – 140.000
5. France – 139.629
6. Great Britain – 138.600
7. Finland – 135.400
8. Italy – 135.114
9. Norway – 134.257
10. Sweden – 133.515
11. Ireland – 130.172
12. Austria – 67.886, after one rider (team of three)
13. Switzerland – 67.743, after one rider (team of three)
14. Poland – 67.486, after one rider (team of three)
15. Spain – 66.029
16. Ukraine – 65.743, after one rider (team of three)

VIEW FULL RESULTS