Strzegom, Poland – August 18, 2019 – The Jumping team contest was a real thriller during the 2019 FEI European Championships for Ponies, with two separate jump-offs to decide both gold and bronze.

France and Germany, each carrying 12 faults, contested third place and it was the French foursome of Jeanne Hirel (FRA) & Armene du Costilg, Ilona Mezzadri (FRA) & Callas Rezidal Z, Pauline Scalabre (FRA) & Sligo de Mormal and Romane Orhant (FRA) & Quabar des Monceaux who squeezed their German opponents off the podium. Both sides added four penalty-points to their scorelines but the French were considerably faster, posting 136.75 while Germany returned in the combined time of 148.32 seconds.

John McEntee (IRL) & Little Smithe

As if that wasn’t exciting enough it was edge-of-the seat stuff when Ireland’s John McEntee (IRL) & Little Smithe, Niamh McEvoy (IRL) & Ardfry Skye and brothers Tom Wachman (IRL) & Ocean des As and Max Wachman (IRL) & Cuffesgrange Cavalidam took on Britain’s Shaunie Greig (GBR) & Casino Royale, Claudia Moore (GBR) & Elando van de Roshoeve, Lily Bremner (IRL) & Lapislazuli and Holly Truelove (IRL) & Rexter D’Or.

Niamh McEvoy (IRL) & Ardfry Skye

Tied on a two-round total of four faults, and with gold hanging in the balance, both teams produced three more clear rounds and it was Max Wachman’s (IRL) breath-taking last-to-go run that swung it in Ireland’s favour. Breaking the beam in 40.22 seconds he rounded their total to 129 seconds which left Ireland just 1.72 seconds quicker than Britain in silver medal spot.

Source: Press release by Louise Parkes for FEI – Fédération Equestre Internationale

Photos: © FEI / Łukasz Kowalski