After a hot and sticky first day at Aachen for the FEI European Championships, Great Britain have kept themselves right up in the medal hunt with two riders gone. It was a day of anticipation for Team GBR with two debutante horses but both performed brilliantly under their experienced riders to lie in bronze position with the home German team leading and the Netherlands in silver.
Worcestershire’s Michael Eilberg got the British team off to a solid start riding his father Ferdi’s Marakov (pictured right) with 69.943%.
Aachen is to dressage as Wimbledon is to tennis and the arena is a daunting one. Part of the Eilberg family as a youngster, Latvian bred Marakov was originally destined for a career in show jumping, as was Michael, but as the rider’s discipline changed, so did the horse’s and their focus was dressage. The horse was the first to take Michael to grand prix level so competing at a senior championships is all the more special.
‘Marco’, as Marakov is known, entered the impressive arena tentatively but a pat from Michael reassured him and they started on their biggest performance to date. The test was very regular with impressive piaffe and passage earning good scores from the seven-strong judges panel. Michael really let the horse fly in the extended canter before a smooth transition back. The duo came turned on to the centre line for the tricky canter zig-zag and a mis-communication put them off their stride to lose vital marks. A well-presented final centre line pulled up some marks and 70.314% was provisionally the score.
The score was revised to 69.943% on the final count, just missing out on a plus 70% score, but a great start for the team nonetheless.
After his test, Michael commented: “I’m really pleased with him; it was a daunting atmosphere. Perhaps I could have let go of him a bit more but that can go either way so overall, I’m happy. I still feel like I have to go in and hold his hand but it’s pleasing that even having to help him out we can still score plus 70. My score will free Fiona up so she can relax and ride to her best; her horse looked amazing this morning working. It’s a real championship atmosphere here and little mistakes can prove costly. It’s a lovely thing; when he was new to grand prix, he could be nervous and spooky and we’d get 59% but now he copes with the nerves and can score 70%.”
Listen to Michael’s FEI interview.
Fiona Bigwood, from Horsham, announced her arrival on the European scene with a large boom with her stunning mare, Atterupgaards Orthilia – our secret weapon. The crowds on the continent aren’t familiar with ten year old ‘Tillie’ but they are now after a light, harmonious performance which won many new plaudits. In just her sixth international grand prix, it was hard to know just what to expect; as Fiona said; “It’s only her sixth international so isn’t that experienced but obviously the talent is there; it’s a question of how much you ask.”
Understandably, she started cautiously after a nervous trip up the tunnel but they soon grew in confidence. They showed great reach in the first trot half passes and some strong piaffe and passage for marks around eight. With the line of canter pirouettes behind them, Fiona went for the final extended trot and Tillie floated effortlessly – but spectacularly – across the diagonal. A firm plant of four feet brought the test to an end and 75.8% was the final score – a fraction off first place and a huge boost for the team.
Mum of three Fiona commented; “She was nervous outside and let out a little whinny in the tunnel on the way up to the arena but we got in there and she just said ‘I trust you mum’. I knew there was pressure on us to pull out a mark to be in with a chance of a medal. My goal was for a mistake free test and that was what I got. Once my canter pirouettes were done, I could breathe, relax and enjoy it so I let fly on the last extended trot. I thought to myself ‘come on girl, let’s go!’.
“Aachen is just magical; there’s nothing bigger in dressage so I’m on cloud nine – she was amazing to ride in there. I’ve done my job today; minimal mistakes, pretty clean and a good score for the team.”
Fiona rides with an eye patch over her left eye following a fall from a horse which left her with limited vision. It’s really raised attention and the waiting press were curious. She told the media; “I don’t see in 3D so it’s hard to get a feeling of where her neck is. Also, it’s really difficult for me to judge the angle of the right bend which makes it harder but I’m learning.”
Listen to Fiona’s FEI interview.
Germany finished on 150.1 with the Netherlands a fraction behind and it’s their rider Diederick van Silfhout who leads overall on 75.814%. Britain are just 4.357 behind Germany so it’s all to play for tomorrow – and of course, the long awaited show down between Totilas and Valegro which the talk of the show ground.
Team scores:
1st Germany 150.100
2nd Netherlands 148.214
3rd Great Britain 145.743
4th Sweden 140.543
5th Belgium 140.286
6th Spain 140.114
Full results and start times: click here
British times tomorrow: Carl Hester & Nip Tuck 14.00 and Charlottte Dujardin & Valegro 18.00 (BST).
Photos: Top ©BEF/Jon Stroud Media and bottom © www.kevinsparrow.co.uk
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