Great anticipation as the third and final leg of the FEI European Eventing Championship for Young Riders was played out in front of an eager and enthusiastic crowd. The sport over the past few days has been just phenomenal and the very contemplation that these riders will soon be evolving on the senior level seems completely appropriate. They have proved to be not only determined but also highly professional in their outlook and ability.

Great deception for Huub Van Der Mark (NED) who had performed brilliantly and been in the lead since the beginning of the Championship but withdrew this morning as he felt Exquis Idem du Roc was not quite 100% and despite this being a very important Championship, “the welfare of the horse must come first”.

Thus, forty-three competitors turned up for this last and final leg, and with the individual leader out of the way, aspirations were flying high. The Jumping phase comes in the shape of a CCI** with maximum heights set at 1.20m. Given the gruelling efforts of yesterday’s Cross Country, today’s Jumping challenge would be most revealing.

Without further a due, we are pleased to announce that the new European champions are none other than the very talented British team – with three out of four team members in the top 10 - they finished at a score of 167.8 points! In second place, reconfirming their intentions to be on the top of the podium (they were also runners-up last year in Pardubice), are team Switzerland with a score of 216.6 points. And in third place comes Germany – as though last years podium had re-manifested itself (but with different players) with a score of 244 points.

While Germany may not have reclaimed the team title – Sabrina Mertens who faithfully bid her time in runner-up position behind Huub Van der Mark (now withdrawn) since the beginning of the Championships gracefully jumped a clear round with Divolo to become the new European Young Rider Eventing champion. And even though this was not home turf, the crowd let out a hearty cheer in response to the sheer brilliance of her performance since the beginning of the Championship.

The Prize-giving ceremony was attended by the HRH The Princess Royal, former FEI President as well as European Eventing Champion and a member of the British Eventing team at the Montreal Olympics, 1976 and the FEI Athlete’s Committee Chairman Lee Pearson, Para-Equestrian Dressage Olympic, World and European medallist. Congratulations to all the medallists and competitors that took part in this 27th edition and until next year, in Kreuth, Germany where the action should take place from 25-28 September 2008.

Team Results:
1. Great Britain 167.8
2. Switzerland 216.6
3. Germany 244

Individual Results
1. Sabrina Mertens (GER) – Divolo, 44.2
2. Nicola Wilson (GBR) – Oingy Boingy, 51.4
3. Emily Galbraith (GBR) – Crown Alliance, 52.8

For the complete results, please consult the following website: http://www.blairhorsetrials.co.uk/event/young-rider-results.asp