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European Eventing Championships
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The European Eventing Championships, like most other European Championships, is held every two years. Today it is a four star eventing competition. A four star event is one step down from the grand slam which consists of three five star events.
The first Championships were held at Badminton in 1953, where six teams (Britain, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland) were sent, although only Britain and Switzerland were able to get their horses fit in time to actually compete. However, 10 teams were able to compete at the 1959 competition.
The 1995 and 1997 European Championships were held as part of events open to non-European riders (in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy in 1995 and Burghley, England in 1997) with the top three European individuals and teams receiving medals. The first woman to win the competition was Shelia Wilcox in 1957, although women were not allowed to compete in the Olympics in eventing until 1964.
There is also a Championship held for young riders, juniors and ponies.
Format
[edit] |
The Championships offers both team and individual gold, silver, and bronze medals.
Each nation may bring a team of four riders and two individuals. The team riders also compete for the individual gold, silver, and bronze medals. The host nation may bring up to eight individual riders, with a total squad of 12.
The best three scores among the teams—the team with the lowest number of penalty points—receive the gold, silver, and bronze medals. However, a team must have at least three riders completing the competition, or else they will be eliminated. If a team has four riders complete, there is a drop-score in their results. If three riders complete, all three scores are added into the final total for the team.
Beginning in 2005, the European Eventing Championships was held in the short-format, without the phases A, B, and C (roads and tracks, and steeplechase) on speed and endurance day. It included just the dressage, cross-country, and show jumping phases.
The competition begins with a horse inspection to make sure all competing horses are sound before beginning the dressage. Then the nations nominate their four team riders and the order they wish them to compete, before the order of nations is determined. The order of go is especially important on cross country day, when the first competitors have the best footing, but do not know how the course will ride, while the later competitors will know the tricky obstacles on course, but may have to run their horses on torn up or sloppy footing.
Casualties and incidents
[edit]- 2017 - Bob the Builder ridden by Michal Knap (POL) was euthanized after breaking his right front long pastern bone when he fell at fence 15.[1]
Past winners
[edit]Britain's Ginny Elliot and Germany's Michael Jung are currently the only riders to have won the individual European Champion title three times in succession: Elliot became European Champion in 1985, 1987, and 1989; Jung became European Champion in 2011, 2013 and 2015.[2]
On eight occasions, riders of a single nation have swept the podium, winning all three medals; Great Britain on 7 occasions, most recently in 2021[3] and Germany once in 2011.
Individual results
[edit]Team results
[edit]All-time medal table (1953–2021)
[edit]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Great Britain | 42 | 26 | 19 | 87 |
| 2 |  Germany | 12 | 16 | 14 | 42 |
| 3 |  Soviet Union | 4 | 5 | 1 | 10 |
| 4 |  France | 3 | 9 | 10 | 22 |
| 5 |  Ireland | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 |
| 6 |  Sweden | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 |
| 7 |  Switzerland | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 8 |  Poland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 |  Denmark | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 |  Italy | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 11 |  Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 |  Belgium | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 13 |  Spain | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (13 entries) | 70 | 69 | 67 | 206 | |
References
[edit]- ^ Allen, Shelby. "Bob The Builder Euthanized at European Championships - Eventing Nation - Three-Day Eventing News, Results, Videos, and Commentary". eventingnation.com. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
- ^ 2011 European Eventing Championship press kit: medal winners 1953 - 2009 Archived 2012-03-30 at the Wayback Machine (pdf-file)
- ^ The other occasions were 1954, 1955, 1971, 1985, 1989 and 1991.
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European Eventing Championships
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Origins and establishment
The European Eventing Championships were established in 1953 by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the global governing body for equestrian sports, as the premier continental competition for the discipline of eventing.[1] The inaugural event was hosted at Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, Great Britain, selected by the FEI to launch this new championship format aimed at crowning individual and team champions among European nations.[1] This initiative came in the post-World War II era, when international equestrian competitions were resuming and expanding beyond the Olympic Games, which had featured eventing since 1912 as a test of cavalry skills.[5] The championships provided a dedicated platform for European riders to compete at the highest level, fostering the sport's growth across the continent following the disruptions of the war.[5] The first edition in 1953 drew entries from six nations: Britain, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland, though challenging early April weather and logistical issues meant only Britain and Switzerland completed the full competition.[1] Britain's team emerged victorious, securing the inaugural team title, while Major Laurence Rook of Great Britain riding Starlight became the first individual European Champion.[1] Rook's win highlighted the sport's strong military connections at the time, as many top competitors, including himself, were serving officers, reflecting eventing's roots in testing the fitness and obedience of military horses.[1] From its outset, the championships adopted the classic three-phase format of eventing—dressage, cross-country, and show jumping—directly derived from early 20th-century military equestrian trials designed to evaluate cavalry horses' versatility and endurance.[5] These phases originated in competitions like the 1902 French Championnat du Cheval d'Armes, which influenced the Olympic eventing discipline and, in turn, the European Championships' structure.[5] The FEI's organizational framework emphasized strict rules for horse welfare and rider eligibility, initially limiting participation to military personnel or amateurs, which underscored the championships' role in transitioning eventing from a wartime preparation tool to a peacetime sport.[5] This foundation set the stage for the event's biennial tradition, with subsequent editions building on the 1953 model to promote international standards in Europe.[1]Evolution and key changes
The European Eventing Championships were established as a biennial competition in 1953, held every two years in the midpoint of the Olympic cycle to complement global equestrian events and allow athletes adequate preparation time.[6] This scheduling has been largely consistent, with the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), as the sport's governing body, overseeing the rhythm and ensuring alignment with Olympic standards while promoting European participation. From its outset, the championships featured a team competition format alongside individual honors, debuting with six nations—Britain, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland—at Badminton Horse Trials in the United Kingdom.[1] Participation expanded significantly by the 1970s, with up to a dozen European countries regularly fielding teams, driven by growing national equestrian programs and FEI outreach efforts that professionalized the discipline starting in the 1980s.[1] The FEI's increased involvement during this period included stricter eligibility criteria, veterinary protocols, and integration with Olympic qualification pathways, elevating the event's prestige and safety standards. Key rule modifications in the 1990s addressed safety concerns following high-profile incidents in international eventing, such as those at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, leading to shorter cross-country distances and redesigned obstacles to minimize fatigue and fall risks.[7] In 1995, the championships at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, were opened to non-European riders and downgraded from four-star to three-star level to accommodate broader international entry while maintaining competitive integrity.[1] By the 2000s, the event reverted to four-star standards, incorporating advanced timing and frangible technology for fences to further enhance welfare and align with elite FEI competitions like the Olympics. These evolutions reflected the FEI's ongoing commitment to balancing tradition with modern safety imperatives, continuing into the present with the 2025 edition at Blenheim Palace, Great Britain, where the host nation claimed team gold and Laura Collett won individual gold on London 52.[8] Parallel championships for juniors, starting in 1967, and young riders, beginning in 1981, expanded the event's scope to develop emerging talent through age-specific categories at lower star levels, such as CCI2*-L for juniors.[9][10] These additions under FEI auspices fostered grassroots growth and provided a structured pathway to senior levels, with dedicated venues and rules mirroring the main competition's phases but scaled for youth development.Format and rules
Competition phases
The European Eventing Championships consist of three core phases—dressage, cross-country, and show jumping—conducted in sequence to test the horse and rider's versatility, fitness, and partnership under FEI regulations.[11] The dressage phase, held first, evaluates the harmony, obedience, and suppleness between horse and rider through a series of prescribed movements performed in a 60m x 20m arena. Riders execute a specific test tailored to the championship level, such as the FEI Eventing Dressage Test for CCI4*-L, judged by a panel of officials on a scale of 0-10 for each movement, with additional collective marks for overall impression, gaits, and harmony. Scores from individual judges are averaged to produce a percentage, which is then converted to penalty points using the formula of 100 minus the percentage (rounded to one decimal place), where a higher percentage yields fewer penalties. Minor errors, such as a trotting movement instead of canter, incur 2 penalty points each, with elimination after the third error or for issues like blood on the horse.[11] The cross-country phase follows dressage as an endurance test, requiring horse and rider to navigate a timed course of approximately 6-7 km over varied natural terrain with 30-40 fixed obstacles designed to challenge bravery and athleticism. The course has an optimum time calculated from its distance and a prescribed speed (typically 570 m/min for championships), with penalties of 0.4 points per second exceeding this time, and elimination for exceeding the time limit (twice the optimum). Jumping faults include 20 penalty points for the first refusal or run-out at an obstacle, 40 for the second at the same obstacle, and elimination for the third or for any fall of horse or rider; additionally, dangerous riding or unauthorized assistance results in elimination. This phase emphasizes strategic pace management to minimize time faults while clearing obstacles cleanly.[11] The show jumping phase concludes the competition, assessing the horse's accuracy, obedience, and recovery after cross-country fatigue over a 350-500m indoor or outdoor course featuring 10-15 colored, knockable fences up to 1.30m in height. Riders aim to complete the course within an allowed time (based on a speed of 375 m/min), incurring 4 penalty points for each knocked-down obstacle or the first refusal, another 4 for the second refusal at the same fence, and elimination for a third refusal, any fall, or exceeding the time limit. Time penalties of 0.4 points per second over the allowed time are added, testing the pair's suppleness and control under pressure.[11] Overall scoring aggregates penalty points from all three phases, with the lowest total determining the winner for both individual and team classifications; teams typically comprise the three lowest-scoring combinations from a four-rider entry, discarding the highest score. Ties are resolved first by the fewest penalties in the cross-country phase, then by the highest dressage percentage, followed by the fastest cross-country time, fewest show jumping penalties, fastest show jumping time, and finally the dressage collective mark for suppleness and harmony if necessary.[11]Eligibility and qualification
The eligibility for the European Eventing Championships is governed by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Eventing Rules, which apply to all senior continental championships. Riders must be seniors, defined as at least 18 years old from the start of the calendar year in which the championship occurs, and must represent a European National Federation (NF) while holding a valid FEI license.[11] Horses must be at least 9 years old from the start of the calendar year and registered with the FEI, including possession of a valid passport and microchip.[11] Team qualification is managed by each participating European NF, which selects its squad through domestic selection trials, often involving performances in CCI3* or CCI4* events. Each team consists of four riders and horses (or three), with the scores of the best three combinations determining the team result; all entered combinations compete.[11] Individual participation is open to eligible riders from European NFs who are not selected for a team, provided they meet the Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) as a combination with their horse. For the senior European Championships, this requires at least one MER at the CCI4*-L level, achieved between January 1 of the preceding year and the closing date of nominated entries.[12][11] All horses must pass mandatory veterinary inspections, including a first inspection before the dressage phase and a second before the jumping phase, conducted by the Ground Jury and Veterinary Delegate to confirm fitness for competition.[11] The overall quota limits starters to a maximum of 90 athletes, with priority given to complete teams (minimum three NFs required for the event to proceed), followed by individual entries up to the cap.[11]Championships
List of editions
The European Eventing Championships have been contested 37 times since their establishment in 1953, typically on a biennial basis with early irregularities including the absence of an edition in 1955. The competition shifted to a more regular schedule in odd-numbered years following the turn of the millennium, facilitating alignment with Olympic preparation cycles. Each edition features teams and individuals from across Europe, with participation growing over time; for instance, the 2025 championships at Blenheim Palace drew entries from 17 nations.[13] The following table provides a chronological overview of all editions, including venues and host countries:| Year | Venue | Host Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Badminton Horse Trials | United Kingdom |
| 1957 | Copenhagen | Denmark |
| 1959 | Harewood House | United Kingdom |
| 1962 | Burghley House | United Kingdom |
| 1965 | Moscow | Soviet Union |
| 1967 | Punchestown | Ireland |
| 1969 | Haras du Pin | France |
| 1971 | Burghley House | United Kingdom |
| 1973 | Kiev | Soviet Union |
| 1975 | Luhmühlen Horse Trials | West Germany |
| 1977 | Burghley House | United Kingdom |
| 1979 | Luhmühlen Horse Trials | West Germany |
| 1981 | Horsens | Denmark |
| 1983 | Frauenfeld | Switzerland |
| 1985 | Burghley House | United Kingdom |
| 1987 | Luhmühlen Horse Trials | West Germany |
| 1989 | Burghley House | United Kingdom |
| 1991 | Punchestown | Ireland |
| 1993 | Achselschwang | Germany |
| 1995 | Pratoni del Vivaro | Italy |
| 1997 | Burghley House | United Kingdom |
| 1999 | Luhmühlen Horse Trials | Germany |
| 2001 | Pau | France |
| 2003 | Punchestown | Ireland |
| 2005 | Blenheim Palace | United Kingdom |
| 2007 | Pratoni del Vivaro | Italy |
| 2009 | Fontainebleau | France |
| 2011 | Luhmühlen Horse Trials | Germany |
| 2013 | Malmö | Sweden |
| 2015 | Blair Castle | United Kingdom |
| 2017 | Strzegom | Poland |
| 2019 | Luhmühlen Horse Trials | Germany |
| 2021 | Avenches | Switzerland |
| 2023 | Haras du Pin | France |
| 2025 | Blenheim Palace | United Kingdom |
Venues and hosting
The selection of venues for the European Eventing Championships is governed by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) through a competitive bidding process designed to ensure high standards of organization and facilities. National federations or organizing committees submit formal proposals via the FEI's online bidding platform, detailing proposed sites, infrastructure, and logistical plans; these are evaluated by the FEI and relevant technical committees based on key criteria including the quality of facilities, suitability of terrain for the demanding cross-country phase (such as varied natural landscapes with solid obstacles), and capacity to accommodate spectators and media. Hosting rights are typically awarded 2 to 3 years in advance by the FEI Bureau during its annual meetings, allowing sufficient preparation time while encouraging broad participation across Europe.[15] Venue requirements emphasize safety, welfare, and competitive integrity, as specified in the FEI Eventing Rules and championship bid guidelines. The cross-country course must span 6,270 to 6,840 meters with 40 to 45 jumping efforts at a optimum speed of 570 meters per minute, incorporating natural features like water crossings to challenge horse and rider endurance. Dressage arenas require standard dimensions of 60 meters by 20 meters with all-weather footing, while show jumping arenas must adhere to international standards under FEI Jumping Rules, including obstacle heights up to 1.30 meters and secure enclosures. Stabling facilities must provide individual boxes, veterinary access, and welfare measures such as ample bedding and quarantine areas.[11][15] Prominent hosting sites have become synonymous with the championships due to their distinctive terrains and historical significance. Blenheim Palace in the United Kingdom, with its expansive parkland and Capability Brown-designed landscapes, hosted in 2005 and again in 2025, offering undulating ground ideal for flowing cross-country tracks. Badminton House in the UK has been a frequent venue, including the inaugural 1953 edition, celebrated for its technically demanding courses set amid historic estate grounds. Other notable locations include Luhmühlen in Germany, known for its forested challenges, and Strzegom in Poland, which marked a shift toward Eastern European hosts in 2017.[16][17][1] Hosting patterns reflect the sport's European roots, with the United Kingdom leading with 11 editions—often at prestigious estates—followed by Germany with 7, underscoring Western Europe's early dominance in infrastructure and tradition. Post-1990s expansions incorporated Eastern venues like Poland's Strzegom to foster inclusivity and regional development. In recent years, bidding evaluations have prioritized environmental sustainability, requiring organizers to outline strategies for waste reduction, energy efficiency, and habitat preservation since the 2010s, aligning with the FEI's broader green initiatives.[14]Results and records
Individual champions
The individual competition at the European Eventing Championships has crowned numerous standout riders since the inaugural edition in 1953, when Major Laurence Rook of Great Britain won on Starlight XV, marking the beginning of a storied tradition in the sport.[1] Over the decades, the title has highlighted exceptional talent, with winners demonstrating mastery across dressage, cross-country, and show jumping phases. Great Britain has dominated the individual podium with 21 golds as of 2025, more than all other nations combined, followed by Germany with 6.[18][19] Several riders have achieved multiple individual victories, underscoring their enduring excellence and contributing to the event's legacy of repeat champions. Michael Jung of Germany holds the record for the most consecutive wins with three, riding different horses each time: La Biosthetique-Sam FBW in 2011 at Luhmühlen, fischerRocana FST in 2013 at Malmö, and fischerTakinou in 2015 at Blair Castle.[20][21] Pippa Funnell of Great Britain secured two individual golds, on Supreme Rock in 1999 at Luhmühlen and on Supreme Rock in 2001 at Pau.[22] Lucinda Green of Great Britain also won twice, on Be Fair in 1975 at Luhmühlen and on George in 1977 at Burghley.| Rider | Country | Number of Individual Golds | Years and Horses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Jung | Germany | 3 | 2011 (La Biosthetique-Sam FBW), 2013 (fischerRocana FST), 2015 (fischerTakinou) |
| Pippa Funnell | Great Britain | 2 | 1999 (Supreme Rock), 2001 (Supreme Rock) |
| Lucinda Green | Great Britain | 2 | 1975 (Be Fair), 1977 (George) |
Team champions
The team competition at the European Eventing Championships is contested by nations fielding squads of four riders, with the three best individual scores (after discarding the lowest) determining the team total penalty score; the lowest aggregate wins gold.[25] This format, in place since the 1990s, emphasizes balanced performances across dressage, cross-country, and showjumping phases, often requiring strategies such as pacing horses conservatively during cross-country to minimize faults while maintaining speed.[25] Great Britain has historically dominated, leveraging deep talent pools and home-soil advantages at venues like Badminton and Burghley.| Nation | Team Gold Medals | Most Recent Win |
|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 24 | 2023 |
| France | 5 | 2013 |
| Germany | 7 | 2025 |
| Ireland | 1 | 1979 |
| Others (e.g., Soviet Union, Sweden) | 4 combined | Varies |
Nations medal table
The nations medal table aggregates gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded in both team and individual competitions at the European Eventing Championships since its inception in 1953 through the 2025 edition at Blenheim Palace. Great Britain has historically dominated, amassing a total of 92 medals as of 2025, while Germany follows with 46.[1]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Britain | 45 | 27 | 20 | 92 |
| 2 | Germany | 13 | 18 | 15 | 46 |
| 3 | France | 3 | 9 | 12 | 24 |
| 4 | Ireland | 3 | 5 | 7 | 15 |
| 5 | Sweden | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 |
| 6 | Switzerland | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 7 | Soviet Union | 4 | 5 | 1 | 10 |
| 8 | Poland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | Denmark | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Italy | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 11 | Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Belgium | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |