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2003
European Pony Championships
The German Individual Podium
August 2, 2003
 The
individual podium at the 2003 European Pony Championships
was ascended by a German trio. For the fourth consecutive
year, the Germans were able to get a grip on all three
individual medals. Gold shone for Katharina Winkelhues
who had three historic rides on Dressman. Silver was
bestowed upon Patricia Höhn and her legendary Konrad,
while the bronze dangled around Lydia Camp's neck for
her three professional rides on the 6-year old Dulcia.
 In
the team championship competition, Germany claimed its
fourteenth (!) consecutive gold medal. The German quartet
consistently guarantees top percentage rides while other
nations can only provide individuals who put a breeze
into the neck of the horse. Belgian dressage stars Delphine
Meiresonne and Judith Godefroid were the sole riders
in 14 years time who were able to snoop away individual
gold in 1998 and 1993 from the Germans.
 The
Dutch team won its third consecutive team silver medal.
The team relied most on the two experienced riders and
medal hopefuls Marrigje van Baalen and Inge Verbeek,
but it staged Robin Beekink and Frances Blommers as
strong supportive forces. With Marrigje scoring 73.00%
(3rd) on Power and Paint and Inge Verbeek 69.07% (7th)
on her newest pony Bartje, the silver medal was feasible.
However, Beekink on Milkshake (66.53% - 11th) and Blommers
on Nadir's Gigolo (65.73 % - 13th) provided the necessary
points for the Dutch to safely secure the team silver.
Image copyrighted: Paul
van Oers
Text by Astrid
Appels
Tune in Daily as coverage of the 2003
European Pony Championships continues to grow the
coming weeks
Related Links
History of the 2003
European Pony Championships
Katharina
Winkelhues and Dressman, Winners 2002 European Championships
Annika
Fiege and Konrad
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