Andre Thieme and DSP Chakaria win the European Championships

What a championship!

In an immensely exciting and jubilant atmosphere throughout this splendid afternoon of top-level sport, Andre Thieme and DSP Chakaria won the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship 2021 in Riesenbeck, handing Germany a very well-deserved tribute for having organised this extraordinary championship.

Silver went to Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei, while Peder Fredricson and Catch me Not S won bronze. The second round had spectators holding their breath due to the coups de theatre that slightly changed the expectations and the final placings with a few unexpected faults among the 12 finalists. Andre Thieme and DPS Chakaria confirmed their excellent form seen so far this season with this first important win in front of a home crowd. Confirmation came for Martin Fuchs and Leone Jey who had already won team gold, as well as for Peder Fredricson who only recently returned from Tokyo as Olympic team champion and having won individual silver with All In.

The 24-year-old Greek rider Ioli Mytilineou had placed herself in the medal zone following an impeccable series of clear rounds with her outstanding stallion Levis de Muze; this pair proved they formed an extraordinary partnership, unfortunately marked by a misunderstanding going into the treble that led the young rider to retire.

During the press conference riders unanimously agreed on the high level of the courses built by Frank Rothenberger, described as very intelligent although delicate, large and requiring constant precision from the first to the very last jump. There was always an element uniting all the jumps on a course, with doubles, trebles and lines that did not allow riders a moment of distraction.

Finally, not only was this an extraordinary podium, but all the horse and rider combinations competing in this championship showed great sportsmanship throughout all the tests faced during the four days of the championships.

In the end it was Martin Fuchs, who speaking for all the riders, publicly thanked Ludger Beerbaum and all those who with him had contributed to the organisation of this exceptional event, for the amazing job done, the manner in which the horses were stabled and all those working with them. He also thanked Beerbaum for the extraordinary facilities, his professionalism and - last but not least - the incessant commitment and determination that had given life to the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship in Riesenbeck.        

Reuslts