British event rider Kitty King made a successful trip to France last weekend, winning the 7 Year Old title at the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships at Le Lion d'Angers.

Kitty jumps to victory

In the dressage phase, German riders Franziska Haunhorst and Ingrid Klimke finished in first and second, with Kitty King (Zidante) and Piggy French (Kiltealy Brief) sharing bronze position.

But Pierre Michelet’s cross-country test took a heavy toll in this competition, with 32 of the 68 competitors having refusals, eight taking falls, one retiring, and a further 11 eliminated. European team gold medallist Klimke disappeared from the reckoning with Hale Bob following two refusals and a lot of time penalties, and dressage leader Haunhorst followed suit due to two stops at the water crossing. Some other notable victims of the track included Australia’s Clayton Fredericks and Bill Levett who both bit the turf during the afternoon.

Brilliant Brits

In contrast it was a great day for the British contingent, who rocketed up the leaderboard. Clear rounds by Kitty King, Piggy French, Ruth Edge and Nicola Wilson saw them fill the top four places.

It looked very much like it would be a British whitewash on the final day, but a mistake from Piggy French allowed Germany’s Andreas Brandt to to sneak into silver medal position. Andreas and FRH Escada JS had moved steadily up the rankings from 14th place and never put a foot wrong in the jumping phases. 

Despite one pole down, 29-year-old King held on to win with the consistent Zidante, who had claimed the bronze medal in the 6 Year Old Championship last year.  “This is an amazing feeling” said the new gold medallist.  “It is my first CCI victory since 2002." King said of the mare Zidante “She thinks she is a princess, she has a high opinion of herself and she is probably right!” 

Jung won

Germany’s Michael Jung won the 6 Year Old title with the Hannoverian mare Rocana. Jung was in third place throughout the dressage and cross-country phases, but the show jumping proved costly for some - meaning that Jung's clear round elevated him to the lead. 

“She was 110% throughout the competition and this morning she was lively and very attentive throughout the whole round. I hope to come back here with her next year,” Michael said. 

It was a one-two for mares, as Britain’s Rosalind Canter slotted into silver medal position with Aprobanta.  

Best of breeding

This fixture is widely recognised for identifying the rising stars of the future. Frenchman Nicolas Touzaint is the most prolific winner in the history of the event, having won six gold medals between 2000 and 2005, including the 6 Year Old championship in 2000 and the 7 Year Old championship in 2001 riding Galan de Sauvagère, his double individual European gold medal winning mount.

Jung won the silver medal in both the 6 and 7 year old categories with his 2010 FEI World Eventing Championship ride La Biosthétique-Sam, and 2011 Lexington CCI4* winner, King's Temptress ridden by Great Britain's Mary King, is another Le Lion graduate.

Results:

6 Year Olds: GOLD - Rocana (Michael Jung) GER 46.50; SILVER - Aprobanta (Rosalind Canter) GBR 46.70;  BRONZE - Rubens delle Sementarecce (Emiliano Portale) ITA 51.70.

7 Year Olds: GOLD - Zidante (Kitty King) GBR 48.10 ; SILVER - FRH Escada JS (Andreas Brandt) GER 48.40;  BRONZE - Kiltealy Brief (Piggy French) GBR 48.50.