Germany’s Eventing Success
Monday, July 28, 2008
German pony riders proved their determination last weekend at the wonderful Swiss venue of Avenches when they clenched not only team gold, but individual gold and bronze as well!
The German team had the best starting position when they were in the lead after the dressage and the cross country. No particular fence in the course caused more refusals or problems and only one fall without serious harm could be reported on the wonderful track.
For the teams the German squad felt the British contingent breathing down their backs and responded with two clear rounds in the final jumping phase and one with a time penalty, more than enough to clench gold.
For the individual medals the jumping final was even more exciting. Fifteen year old Nina Stegemann aboard Mr Hale was in the lead with only 0.2 advantage on the winner of dressage France’s Chloé Deschamps aboard Mon Nantano de Florys. Chloé Deschamps and Mon Nantano de Florys had been the winners this season of no less than six CCIP** in Jau Dignac, Pompadour, Macon-Laizé, Périgueux and Moulins. On each of these occasions she started by winning the dressage. Now in the final jumping phase she had one bar down. Whereas, Nina Stegemann was without faults until the very last fence, which left her with one bar down – the margin was close, but the title was secured -. Germany’s Nina Stegemann took gold, only just ahead of Chloé Deschamps. “With a tiny time penalty the individual gold medal would have gone!” exclaimed the German rider.
Last year she celebrated an individual bronze medal, this time it was both team and individual gold which hung around her neck. The bronze medal was won by German rider Pia Münkere aboard Biggi. She began in equel second place after the dressage phase with teammate Nina Stegemann behind Chloé Deschamps. In the cross country she added time penalties to be in third position. With a safe clear round in the final jumping the bronze medal was hers.
Results - TEAM
1 . GER 140.0
2 . GBR 143.2
3 . ITA 179.4
4 . FRA 190.8
5 . IRL 223.2
6 . BEL 236.0
7 . SUI 253.4
8 . SWE 256.5
9 . NED 336.9
10 . DEN 376.9
Results - INDIVIDUAL
1. GOLD Nina Stegemann, Mr Hale Bob (GER) 43,0
2. SILVER Chloe Deschamps, MON NANTANO DE FLORYS (FRA) 43.2
3. BRONZE Pia Münker, BIGGI (GER) 44.2
4. Gina Ruck, ICE COOL BAILEY (IRL) 45.7
5. Eliza Stoddart, KILLACORAN BLUE (GBR) 48.1
6. Ella McEwan CATHERSTON NUTSAFE (GBR) 49.4
7. Jenny Tönjes AIRCRAFT (GER) 52.8
8. David Hannigan CASTLEVIEW RAKISH MILLY (IRL) 54.3
9. Umberto Riva LATINO EXPRESS (ITA) 55.9
10. Helen Dunning GLENAYRE BAY SURF (GBR) 56.1
11. Althea Bleekman, NIGHTGIRL (GBR) 56.7
12. Lucia Brazzolo RODODENDRO (ITA) 57.0
