Kronenberg 2024: results of the FEI European Show Jumping Championships Ch/J/YR

Oliver Fletcher and Hello William at the Kronenberg 2024 FEI European Show Jumping Championships Ch/J/YR © FEI/Leanjo de Koster

Highlights: Eleonora Sanna for Juniors, Maria Vittoria Gaffuri for Children, and Lorenzo Correddu and Martina Ferrari for Young Riders

Kronenberg, Netherlands – The Youth European Show Jumping Championships 2024 at the Peelbergen Equestrian Centre came to a close yesterday, leaving behind a trail of unforgettable moments.

Junior Championship: Eleonora Sanna just misses the podium

In the Junior Championship held on Saturday, 20 July, Eleonora Sanna delivered an excellent performance for Italy, finishing in an impressive fourth place in the individual final. Riding Incanto VDL, the sixteen-year-old from Modena executed a series of clear rounds, climbing from her initial sixtieth position to fourth place. This was a remarkable achievement, especially given that it was Sanna’s debut at a European Championship.

Filippo Bolognini also made his mark, finishing fourteenth with Denver HE, after securing a clear round in the first phase of the final, ending with a total of 10.73 penalties.

Children Championship: Aleksandra Hearst wins, Maria Vittoria Gaffuri shines

On Sunday, 21 July, the top 30 pairs competed in the Children Championship final, which featured a podium entirely comprised of female riders following a seven-rider jump-off. The gold went to Spain’s Aleksandra Hearst with Corelien, followed by Finland’s Sani Illi with Backwoods Challenger, and Germany’s Brianne Beerbaum with Carrero T Z.

Among the top Italian performers were Maria Vittoria Gaffuri and Antonio Spano, both thirteen-year-olds making their European Championship debut. The young athletes achieved notable results, placing within the ‘Top Ten’ of the final standings.

Maria Vittoria Gaffuri finished eighth with Cafeine des Roches, having accumulated six penalties in total. She started with a clear round but incurred penalties for a mistake in the first round and time faults in the second. Despite this being her first European Championship, following her debut with the Children’s team at the CSIO in Compiegne in April, the placement was commendable, though she lamented not maintaining a top position.

Antonio Spano, from Lecce, competed with Little Painted DN and completed the two rounds of the final with a double clear round, rising significantly from his initial twenty-seventh place on Saturday. He ultimately finished ninth, tied, with eight penalties overall.

Young Rider Championship: gold for Oliver Fletcher

After the Young Rider final, which featured 85 participants, the gold medal went to British rider Oliver Fletcher with Hello William (2.71), the silver to Ireland’s Francis Derwin with Flexi K (4.61), and the bronze to France’s Jules Orsolini with Charlotte 198 (5.48).

Among the three Italian competitors, Martina Ferrari achieved the best result. Riding Alonko Hero Z, the twenty-year-old from Lombardy finished in eighteenth place. Italian Army corporal Lorenzo Correddu, with Dalakani Chardonnet, secured nineteenth place, while Elisa Chimirri with Calandro Z retired from the competition on the final day, which was further complicated by adverse weather conditions.

Full results available here

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