EUROPEAN JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP CH-J-YR VILAMOURA 2021

Last day of competition in the FEI European Jumping Championship Ch-J-YR Vilamoura 2021 and what a perfect way to end the event. The level of competition was as high as it can be and the two Individual trophies still to deliver, were disputed until the last minute.
Four competitions were scheduled, two Farewell classes (one for the Children and other for the Young Riders category) and two Individual Ranking classes (for the same
categories mentioned before). Bernardo Costa Cabral, designed 6 very technical courses, set between 1,20m and 1,50m (depending on the class), because each Individual Ranking Class, had two different designs (one per round).
Starting for the Farewell classes, in the Children ́s category, the Hungarian Rodrigo Szuhai riding Chacco Boy was the winner, the Irish Emily Moloney & Gvs Goodwins
Queen were second and the third position was occupied by the German Fabio Thielen & Dede V. The Young Rider ́s had only 4 combinations competing for the Farewell (two
Russians, one Irish and one Italian) and the winner was the Russian Ksenia Khairulina, riding Flipperboy.
The Young Riders category added another black, red and yellow flag to the winner ́s list, but this time it was a different one…the one from Germany. Matthis Westendarp riding Stalido, assured the advantage we brought from the Second Competition and with a Double Clear, ended the competition with a total 5,45 points. The Whitaker family was once again represented in the competition by Jack, that riding Scenletha confirmed the great British results in the event. The Belgium Emilie Conter and Balento C.S, were the bronze medalists.
The Children ́s category was the most disputed Individual Ranking of the event, having a Jump Off, after the two rounds of the final, composed by five combinations. The Finnish Hugo Kogelnig riding Vermont 2, was fast (30.72) and got really close to the victory, after 2 combinations with 4 points (Seppe Wouters & Porthos Maestro Wh and Anna Marie Vitek & Chacco’s Amke, 4th and 3rd respectively). But the happiness was too short, because after him entering the arena, was the Hungarian Gyula Szuhai Jr. riding Perthy Jackson, that got the Gold and cleared the round in only 30.43. Not much to do from the
Swiss Lou Puch & Vitalhorse Un Amour La Goula that ended with 8 points. The sponsors of the two “master classes” were the same, during all the event (GPA Helmets and a weekend on Vila Galé Hotels, courtesy of the sponsors GPA and Vila Galé Hotels, Flexon ́s Stirrups and Equick ́s Boots), but today, one more brand joined the
others: the Portuguese Rider ́s Sabino Saddle, was awarded to the three winners of the Children ́s Individual Final category.
The Portuguese riders ended the competition of the Children category in 22nd of a total of 92 participants (Alice Laruça and Canouan Island) and 67th in the Young Riders category, thanks to Diogo Portela Mendes and Divalentino C.
We could not leave without mentioning everyone ́s nostalgic sadness, in the end of the day, for leaving a place with such a good weather, nice food and kind people such as Portugal…We hope to see you soon.
mediaofficer – vilamouraeqctours.com podium young riders