British children team claim team gold at the European Championships

Great Britain's children team went off victorious at the European Championships. Photo (c) Tomas Holcbecher.

After a two-team jump-off for the gold medal, Great Britain's children team went off victorious at the European Championships in Samorin today.

Both on a zero penalty score after three rounds of competition, Great Britain and Belgium went into a battle against the clock to decide on the gold and silver in Samorin. With three clears in the jump-off, the British children riders were the best: Angel Tough on Callumbus (Cassini II x Royal Feu), Jocasta Symons on Concordette RR (Lord Z x Fuego du Prelet), Matilda Lanni on Newbridge's Master Brown (Verdi x Corland) and Oliver Fletcher on Disckoboy D.N. (Ard VDL Douglas x Silverstone) could together celebrate the team gold at the x-bionic® sphere.

Belgium collected eight faults in the jump-off, and had to settle for silver. On the team were Caro-Belle De Hornois on Idyllis L (Andiamo x Wandor van de Mispelaere), Anthony Philippaerts on Goofy van't Laerhof (Kashmir van't Schuttershof x Lord Z), Emilia Housen on Flicka (Carabas Landgraf I) and Lies Malisart on Charismo C (Catoki x Barnaul xx).

Denmark and Poland fought it out in a jump-off for the bronze, where Poland was the best with three out of four riders jumping clear against the clock. Juliana Suska, Laura Klapinska, Olga Skrobacz and Aleksandra Kierznowska were on the Polish team.

"I was speechless, it was amazing to win here," said Matilda Lanni after the British victory. "I love this sport area here in Samorin, it is so nice, amazing here. Lots of people came to watch, it was lovely. Belgium put on a good fight so it made the competition really tough. I was stood at the gate when the third Belgium rider had fault and all my team members said just go clear. It was quite a lot of pressure but we made it and got the gold. After the first round, because of we were all clear; it made us to be quite confident to go to the second round."

Click here for the full children team results.

Click here for the children individual standings.

The first round of the young rider team competition was also ridden today in Samorin, and Belgium has taken the lead ahead of tomorrow's deciding round with a total of seven penalties. Only one penalty behind sits Great Britain, while Italy is rank three with twelve penalties.

Individually, Great Britain's Jake Saywell had taken over the lead in the young rider championships with an overall score of 2.40. In 2.68 follows last year's junior champion Gilles Thomas from Belgium while his team mate Boy-Adrian Van Gelderen is rank three on a score of 2.87.

Click here for the young rider team standings.

Click here for the young rider individual standings.