2018 Longines FEI European Championships for Children, Juniors and Young Riders Eventing: Four Gold Medals for France!

What a wonderful day for the French Eventers! Like the Juniors, the host nation’s Young Riders grabbed both Team and individual gold medals in these Longines FEI European Championships presented by Devoucoux.
Yesterday afternoon, the pressure was at its height around the Fontainebleau’s Petit Parquet show ground. The French Young Riders, coming first in the provisional standings after Saturday’s Cross-Country, had a little less than three penalty points ahead of the Germans. They therefore had no right to an error.
Although Victor Burtin unfortunately made two mistakes in this Jumping test, his three compatriots concluded these Championships with a clear round, which gave them the Team gold medals and the Individual one for Victor Levecque and Phunambule des Auges. “We are really happy, we all get along really well and we wanted to sing the Marseillaise here. The Juniors really pushed us well and we had to finish the job,” said Victor Levecque. “Victor is a machine! It must be said!” added Thaïs Méheust about his teammate. “He is our Kilian Mbappé!” insisted Victor Burtin. The atmosphere was obviously festive in the French clan after this crazy day, crowned with four gold medals! Individual silver medallist, the German Emma Brüssau was also ecstatic about her beautiful remontada over the competition. “It’s incredible! I did not ride very well today but my mare jumped very well and helped me a lot. I’m really happy with her!” she girl said, before concluding: “I really had an incredible week and it was cool to meet all the other disciplines!” Bronze medallist, Great Britains’s Alex Kennedy was also very moved. “I cannot believe it! We had a good Dressage test but with a little mistake. I was a bit disappointed, thinking that I had no chance
anymore. After the Cross-Country, we went back to sixth place, but I did not think we would manage to finish on the podium. My horse was very energetic today and jumped very well. I’m really happy with this bronze medal!” smiled the rider after shedding a few tears of joy at the announcement of the results.
JUMPING: HARRY CHARLES AT THE TOP OF EUROPE
This Sunday, July 15th will certainly remain a great day for Great Britain’s Harry Charles, the new Show Jumping Young Riders European Champion with Dom Vivaldi on the day of his birthday!
“I knew I had chances, but my horse was really amazing. This is his third European Championship and he won his sixth medal today,” said the rider, very moved by his victory. On the second step of the podium is Cedric Wolf, silver medallist with Cho Chang J. “It’s amazing, I did not expect that medal at all. I was not on the podium before the last round of this Final, but my horse fought hard for me,” said the
German rider.
Austria’s Felix Koller took third place in this Longines FEI European Championship presented by CWD, riding Captain Future. “I’m really grateful to ride such a horse.
This Championship was difficult, especially with the undulating ground here. I am just happy. These are my first European Championships and also the first medal for my country,” he said, also a little intimidated.
DRESSAGE: ESMEE DONKERS FROM END TO END!
Already crowned European Champion on Saturday’s Individual Test, the Dutch Young Rider Esmee Donkers won another gold medal yesterday in the Freestyle to Music Final. “It’s fantastic! Everything went perfectly! My mare gave the best of herself today and thanks to her, we have a new personal best,” she concluded after a beautiful week rewarded with three medals: two gold and one silver.
GRANDPRIX THANKS THEIR PARTNERS AND ALL PARTICIPANTS
“Thanks to the support of our partners and especially Longines, these first Longines FEI European Championships bringing together the three Olympic disciplines was a success. We would like to thank all the riders, Chef d’Equipe, officials and of course all the volunteers and members of the GRANDPRIX Group who made this week a unique and unforgettable moment. It was a real challenge, for which we had been working for almost two years and we are proud to have completed this project,” said Vincent Goehrs, CEO of GRANDPRIX Group.
About Longines
Based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland since 1832, Longines has developed a savoir-faire forged in tradition, elegance and performance. With its long experience as a timekeeper at world championships and partner of international federations, Longines has created strong and lasting links within the world of sport. Renowned for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of Swatch Group S.A., the world’s largest watchmaking group. With its winged hourglass emblem, the brand is today established in more than 150 countries.
About GRANDPRIX
GRANDPRIX is a leading international media, events and audiovisual company specialized in equestrian sports. The group publishes GRANDPRIX MAGAZINE, GRANDPRIX HEROES (bilingual French/English), and EQ magazines. In addition, GRANDPRIX-REPLAY.COM covers equestrian sports Equestrian World each day in seven languages for a worldwide audience. In the audiovisual sphere, GRANDPRIX TV offers more than two million videos on demand, and broadcasts more than 200 national and international events annually, as well as exclusive programs and reports. Finally, GRANDPRIX EVENT organizes the GRANDPRIX CLASSIC Spring Break and GRANDPRIX CLASSIC Summer Tour competitions at the beautiful Grand Parquet de Fontainebleau site near Paris, as well as the LONGINES DEAUVILLE CLASSIC at the International Equestrian Complex in Deauville, on the coast of Normandy. In 2018, GRANDPRIX EVENT will organize the LONGINES FEI EUROPEAN
CHAMPIONSHIPS for Young Riders, Juniors and Children in the three Olympic disciplines – Jumping,
Eventing and Dressage – at Fontainebleau.
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Eloïse Lépine