Team Sweden made history by adding European Team gold to their accolades which include the Olympic and World titles — a mission accomplished in two years only.

Jens Fredricson and Markan Cosmopolit led the individual standings in both the first and second qualifying competition and repeated their success on Friday. Wilma Hellström and the impressive grey mare Cicci BJN and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson riding Zuccero, sealed the deal with two clear rides, along with world number one Henrik von Eckermann, who only picked up 4 points with Iliana.

It was silver for Ireland – with Eoin McMahon and Mila, Michael Duffy with Cinca 3, Shane Sweetnam’s James Kann Cruz, and Trevor Breen with Highland President — and a bronze for Austria who made history in Milan by wearing a European Jumping Team medal around their necks for the first time thanks to the great ride put together by Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P. Their performance also earned them a ticket to Paris 2024.

With Marcus Ehning and Stargold not showing, Team Germany — holding a 9.31 for the lead — lost a discard score which put the team in a difficult position having all the scores so close to each other. Once Janna Wargers with Limbridge lost 8 points, they moved to fourth place. Following were Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Great Britain, and Italy.

Sunday Action

Saturday will be a day of rest and the Individual medals will be decided on Sunday. The ranking of the top 25 riders qualified yesterday in the competition that awarded the gold medal to the Swedish team ahead of Ireland and Austria, still features the Swedish rider, Jens Fredricson in the lead (on Markan Cosmopolit, with 0 penalties), a position he has maintained since the first round held on Wednesday. He is followed in the standings by another two riders with three clear runs so far: Steve Guerdat from Switzerland (on Dynamix de Belheme with 0.43 penalties) and Michael Duffy from Ireland (on Cinca 3 with 2.18 penalties). The ranking is therefore still very open and uncertain.
The other three riders who contributed to Sweden’s triumph in the team competition are also in the final, namely Henrik von Eckermann (8th on Iliana with 4.70), Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (13th on Zuccero with 8.81) and Wilma Hellstrom (18th on Cicci BJN, with 9.50). Italy’s Emanuele Camilli (17th with Odense Odeveld with 9.18) announced he has retired from the competition.

The fifth and final day of Italia.Open to Meraviglia – FEI Jumping European Championship Milan 2023: at 12 p.m., first round of the individual final; at 2.05 p.m., second round of the individual final for the top 12 riders.
TV: 11.55 a.m.-1.05 p.m. and 2.00-3.00 p.m. live on Rai Sport HD; 2.00-4.35 p.m. live on Sky Sport on one of the football channels, at 7.15 p.m. replay on Sky Sport Action; live “windows” and summary at midnight on EQUTv (Sky channel 220 and digital terrestrial channel 151); live full streaming on FEI.TV.

Photo ©FEI/Leanjo de Koster

By Simona Diale / International Horse Press