2003 European Dressage Championships

Historical Bronze Medal for British Team

August 15, 2003

Not so very surprising was Spain winning the silver medal as Reserve World Champion Beatriz Ferrer Salat provided the third best class score in the Grand Prix. Riding her Hanoverian Beauvalais, Ferrer Salat scored 74.000%. Team member Rafael Soto followed in ninth position with 71.250%, while Ignacio Ramblas gathered 67.292% (20th) on the recently gelded Distinguido and Juan Antonio Jimenez received 67.500% for his ride on the Lusitano Guizo (21st).

Overjoyed was the British dressage team who won the bronze medal in their home country. They had to wait ten years -- since the 1993 European Championships in Lipica -- to claim a medal again at the European Championships. With three riders scoring over 70%, the British team has finally moved to a higher level and shown their quality at a major competition.

Best British performance came from the astonishingly improved Emma Hindle on Hanoverian stallion Wie Weltmeyer. Hindle, who puttered for years at the 65% limit, has transformed into a confirmed Grand Prix rider and presented her stallion in a brilliant way. The judges recognized the difference and awarded her a 71.083% and 10th place. Following strongly in 12th position was new comer Nicola McGivern on another Hanoverian, Active Walero, with 70.500%. Leading British rider Richard Davison had to settle for a 14th place with 70.042% aboard the Danish bred mare Ballaseyr Royale.

"I've always believed in Royale. She's a lovely mare with a lovely brain who always rises to the occasion in the arena," Davison told reporter Seamour Rathore. "We have had good times and lean times over the years and there have been many occasions when things just haven't worked out," Richard added. "But dressage insiders always knew that we were capable of doing better — it was just the outside world who didn't realise it until now."

The British scratch score was Emile Faurie's 66.458%. Riding Rascher Hopes, Faurie got the best out his nice Rascher Hopes, who just lacks that extra touch of brilliance to be a European Top 20 horse.

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