A Bronze For Bronze Dandylion

Britain collects team silver and individual bronze at the European CIC2* Championships, a biennial event which includes a unique team dressage test

- Catherine Austen

EXCELLENT cross-country performances won the Owl Financial-sponsored British squad team silver and individual bronze medals at the European CIC2* Championships, which is restricted to horses and riders who have not competed at eventing’s top levels.

The team of six had languished in fifth (out of six) after the team dressage test, during which a test calling error caused confusion, and they dropped to last after the individual tests. Indiana Limpus led the way for the Brits with a mark of 49.9 on Bronze Dandylion, and the rest of the team and the two individuals scored between that and 55.9.

But strong cross-country riding round Tom Ryckwaert’s testing, intense track pulled them up to silver. Just three riders in the competition made the time, and all were Brits — Indiana, Nicola Hill with MGH Bingo Boy and Jack Pinkney, riding as an individual on LB Liberator.

“We took really good jumpers, and everything that happened before the jumping phases was a bonus,” said chef de mission and chairman of selectors Peter Buist. Simon Ashworth and Sunny