Fontainebleau 2018, Daphne van Peperstraten crowned Junior european champion in dressage

In the lead from the beginning of the Longines FEI European Junior Dressage Championships presented by Devoucoux, Daphne van Peperstraten remained the best in the Individual Test this morning on the Spring Garden. With a score of74.471%, the Dutchwoman got her second gold medal this week. Behind her, Germany placed Valentina Pistner and Romy Allard on the second and third steps of the podium.After winning the Longines FEI European Junior Team Championships presented by Devoucoux, Daphne van Peperstraten grabbed gold in the Individual Test. The public witnessed a real battle, the three medalists of the day having obtained very close average scores. “This is my second year of competition with Cupido, we know each other well. These are also my fourth European Championships, so my experience helps me manage the pressure. Today, my horse was really focused and with me. We made two small mistakes, but we kept a very good score. I love theFreestyle Test so I can not wait to compete again tomorrow,” said the rider on her way out of the ground. Silver medallist with Flamboyant Old, Valentina Pistner, only fifteen years old, did not expect such a success. “We won a Team medal yesterday but today it is my first Individual medal. It’s great, I did not expect such a good result. I have been riding my horse for only seven months. At the beginning of the year, we did not even expect to be here, so it’s really amazing!” said the German rider. “The movements of Flamboyant are very ample and he is very expressive. He is also very calm and always wants to do well. He is fantastic. He just got a little nervous before the prizegiving ceremony because the Eventing Cross-Country begun next to us, and he had never seen that before!” she concluded.Anna-Christina Abbelen, trainer of Romy Allard and Summer Rose, bronze medallists, also seemed very proud of her protégés. “I have been training Romy for about a year and a half. We came here with good hopes, but we were not expecting a medal at all! Romy has been riding her mare for five years. Here, she rides better and better day by day, and she is more and more focused. The mare and her gave the best of themselves all week. I hope they will finish at least in the top five tomorrow, and I wish them a new medal. However, the Freestyle is another test.Anything can happen, but we will have our chances!”, concluded the young woman, also a member of the U25 German team.The eighteen best combinations of this Championship will battle again tomorrow for the Freestyle Final. Only Linda Erbe, 7th and 4th German in the ranking, will not be able to take part in this last test, since the FEI Dressage regulations authorize only three riders per nation.
Source: Press Release Longines Fei European Championships CH/J/YR Fontainebleau 2018Photo: PSV Jean Morel