Wednesday’s 14-fence course had all the championship elements included; the open water, a wall, a triple combination, a liverpool, a flimsy plank, a double – all with super-light material, as well as a discrete, fresh and modern look on the fences. The course also provided the riders with quite a few options, such as the choice of an inside turn from the oxer at no. 5 to the wall at no. 6, as well as from the plank at no. 11 to the oxer at no. 12 – where considerable time could be saved.

First to go, Portugal's Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida and Karonia.L delivered a clear round which in the end was good enough to place 8th.

Belgium's Abdel Said competes as an individual with Bonne Amie, and posted a clear round to finish 16th.

Marcus Ehning is a stalwart on the German team, this time around he is riding Coolio 42 and jumped clear to help the squad sit second overnight – only 0.23 penalty points behind Great Britain.

Nadja Peter Steiner and Mila posted a clear for the Swiss team. They sit 17th individually and 6th with the team.

Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen thanks Equine America Harwich VDL after a clear round, that helped Norway to sit 9th on the team standings overnight.

Janika Sprunger with husband Henrik von Eckermann, who this time around is at the Europeans to support.

Belgium's Thibeau Spits is only 24 years old, but rides with the calmness and experience of someone much older. Aboard the lovely Impress-K van't Kattenheye Z, the Belgian rider jumped a clear round to help his team sit third overnight only 0.65 penalty points behind the leading Brits.

Ireland's chef d'equipe Michael Blake & Co. takes a look at the scoreboard as it shows a clear round for Denis Lynch and Vistogrand, pathfinders for the Irish.

A high-five after a clear round from Jeanne Sadran and Dexter de Kerglenn for Team France, that sits fourth on the overnight standings 1.73 penalty points behind Great Britain.

The course provided the riders with quite a few options, such as the choice of an inside turn from the oxer at no. 5 to the wall at no. 6 – where considerable time could be saved.

But, taking the inside turn did not always pay off. Here Germany's Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames My Prins who had to add four seconds to their time due to a fault on this fence, ending with the drop-score for the team.

A very happy Caroline Rehoff Pedersen after jumping clear for Denmark with Golden Eye...

...and the team celebrating with her on the Kiss&Cry.

As no. 36 into the ring out of the 89 in the class, Donald Whitaker and Millfield Colette posted a quick clear round in 75.27 seconds to take the lead. “It always feels amazing when you ride her, she goes in there like a panther,” Whitaker said about his 12-year-old mare. “She knows what she is doing and I think she wants to win even more than I do. She wants to run and jump, that is all she wants to do.”

Team GB on the Kiss&Cry.

It was a long class, and some needed a nap to get through.

Defending team champion Sweden was not up to the usual standards, and sit 14th on the standings – far off the medals. Their only highlight was Wilma Hellström who jumped a clear round with her faithful Cicci BJN.

After a fall for Paolo Paini, Italy came back strong and finished 5th after round one. Here 22-year-old Giacomo Casadei and Marbella du Chabli, who jumped a clear round for the team.

Belgium's Pieter Devos thanks his home-bred Casual DV after a clear round. The pair sits 12th on the overnight standings individually, and 3rd with the team.

These two! Seamus Hughes Kennedy is only 23, and has himself brought ESI Rocky all the way up to championship level from the young horse classes. Jumping clear for Team Ireland, the pair once again impressed.

With a very short partnership behind them, it did not end well for Portugal's Adir Dias de Abreu who parted ways with GB Diamantina and had to leave the arena on foot during round one of the Europeans.

Meanwhile, the arena crew were left to build the wall up.

Kim Emmen's Imagine N.O.P. had to return to the re-inspection on Wednesday morning before being given the green light to jump, but was nevertheless flying in Wednesday's round one to jump clear for the Dutch team.

The only highlight for the hosts was Armando Trapote and Tornado VS who jumped a clear round. Spain sits tied in 12th of 18th teams on the overnight standings.

Nina Mallevaey's Nikka vd Bisschop was another horse that seemed allergic to the poles on Wednesday, and flew to a clear round for Team France.

Riccardo Pisani and Chatolinue PS compete as individuals for Italy in A Coruña, and impressed with a clear round on Wednesday.

Christian Kukuk and Be Gentle jumped a solid clear round for Team Germany, and sit 9th individually as well as 2nd with the team after round one.

Norway's Therese Søhol Henriksen and Santos Z jumped clear.

As did Cyprus' Lexi Stais and Chad Blue PS.

The feisty Hello Folie cutting corners to be clear and fast for Great Britain, with Scott Brash in the saddle. The two sit 5th overnight, 1.08 penalty points behind leading rider Daniel Coyle and top the standings with the team.

Meanwhile, others did not clear the wall... The Swedes watch on as Amanda Landeblad leaves parts of the wall on the floor.

How happy one gets when Nicola Philippaerts jumps clear for Team Belgium with Katanga vh Dingeshof!

Follow the leaders! With a time of 73.93 seconds as no. 67 into the ring at Casas Novas, Ireland's Daniel Coyle was both clear and lightning-fast aboard his 15-year-old mare Legacy. Competing individually, Coyle explained: “I think when you compete as an individual, you have to take risks. When it is for the team, yes, you go as quickly as you can, but you are a little more careful because you don’t want to waste it for the team as well – so it was easier for me."

Oh Beauville... Clear for the Dutch with Maikel van der Vleuten. The two sit 13th on the overnight standings, 1.63 penalty points behind Coyle as leader and 8th with the team.

A bit spooky on day one, France's Julien Epaillard really had to support Donatello d'Auge during their round which made them a bit slower than we are used to seeing. A time of 75.72 seconds put them 4th, and they are only 0.89 penalty points away from the lead.

Closest to Coyle came Richard Vogel and the phenomenal United Touch S as no. 76 into the ring, who made light work of the inside turns – where others struggled – to cross the finish line in 73.96 seconds. “I am just lucky to be in his saddle," Vogel said after.

Reigning European champion Steve Guerdat had a good start to his campaign of defending his 2023-title from Milan, sitting 6th overnight with Albführen’s Iashin Sitte as best of the Swiss on a score of 1.19 penalty points.

The lovely Delta del'Isle and Giulia Martinengo Marquet jumping clear for Team Italy, who go into round two 5th on the overall standings. The two sit 7th individually, 1.24 penalty points away from the lead.

Some proper support on the Kiss&Cry!

Prettiest horse in the world? Ermitage Kalone jumped spectacular with Gilles Thomas, to finish best of the Belgians in 10th and 1.37 penalty points away from the lead.

Just a bit more Ermitage as we get ready for the second competition.. Today, the horses and riders return for the first of the two rounds of the team final – which also count for the individual standings. This will be a Table A not against the clock and without a jump-off, and the course will be a max. of 1.60m. First to start on Thursday are all individuals, then the teams in two groups based on the results of the best three horse-and-rider combinations on each team from Wednesday. Thursday's competition starts at 15.00, and will sort out the ten best teams that will be allowed to return for Friday’s medal-decider. Click on the photo for all the links you need!