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Zara Leads Team to Gold

Following a superb clear cross-country yesterday, Zara Phillips and Toytown held their nerve to jump another clear round over the coloured poles in today’s show jumping test to make the fairytale come true. Not only did she ensure team gold for Great Britain; but, came out of the arena knowing she had won Iindividual Gold at The FEI Blenheim Petplan European Eventing Championships. (Zara is pictured at the right with her trophy. Photo courtesy of The Blenheim Petplan European Championships.)

Following in the footsteps of her parents – her mother The Princess Royal won the European title in 1971 and her father Mark Phillips, won team Olympic gold in 1972 - Zara proved herself a real professional in her first senior championships and team debut, at only 24 years of age, to become the new European Champion.

It was only three weeks ago that Zara was called up into the squad after Pippa Funnell withdrew Primmore’s Pride after an uncharacteristic and disappointing performance at Gatcombe.

The show jumping was no formality – clear rounds were few and far between before coming into the final top 10 riders.

After German team riders added double figures to their team score the German challenge that had looked so formidable on the first day melted away. A superb clear from William Fox-Pitt ensured that the team gold medal for Britain looked secure. Zara could have afforded eight fences down to retain the team medal; but, only one to win the individual title ahead of William who had moved up into the lead.

While it has to go down as one of the most nerve-wracking rounds in the history of the championships as Toytown rubbed several poles, but both horse and rider remained unfazed. After clearing the penultimate fence the medal was all but round her neck and Zara was already in tears as she cleared the final fence.

William Fox-Pitt added another medal to his haul to take individual silver with his former Badminton winner Tamarillo. Ingrid Klimke, who was riding as an individual for Germany, jumped herself into individual bronze.

Fine show jumping performances from the French team ensured they moved up to take team silver.

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PRESS RELEASE - 11th September 2005
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A Fairytale Ending for Zara

“To win a gold medal is always a massive dream – two is even better – today is almost bizarre but fantastic,” said the new European Champion Zara Phillips as she proudly wore her gold medals.

Twenty four year old Zara was a former Young Rider champion in 2002. In 2003 she moved up to senior level making her mark in her first four-star event at Burghley when she finished second with Toytown to the Grand Slam winner Pippa Funnell.

Although she was long-listed for the British squad for the 2004 Olympics, in Athens, injury to Toytown ruled out them out of the team.

Back in action earlier this year a second place at Luhmuhlen earned their place in the squad and a team place came just three weeks ago when Pippa Funnell withdrew Primmore’s Pride from the team.

“It was a privilege to ride with Jeanette (Brakewell), Leslie (Law) and William (Fox-Pitt) and while it was great to have achieved Iindividual Gold it is even better to have won a Team Medal,” said Zara.

Like the Princess Royal, who in 1971 received her Gold Medal from her mothe, Her Majesty The Queen, Zara too received her medal from her mother The Princess Royal.

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CCI*** Final Results (The Top 10):

1. # Zara Phillips (GBR), TOYTOWN 38.0 (3T) - - 38.0 (1) - 38.0 (FODS)
2. # William Fox-Pitt (GBR), TAMARILLO 43.3 (12) - - 43.3 (4) 1 = 44.3
3. Ingrid Klimke (GER), SLEEP LATE 45.2 (16) - - 45.2 (7) - 45.2 (FODS)
4. # Karin Donckers (BEL), GORMLEY 41.5 (9) 1.2 - 42.7 (3) 4 = 46.7
5. # Frank Ostholt (GER), AIR JORDAN 38.0 (3T) 6.4 - 44.4 (6) 3 = 47.4
6. Piia Pantsu (FIN),YPAJA KARUSO 45.0 (15) 2.8 - 47.8 (9) - 47.8
7. Andreas Dibowski (FRA), FRH SERVE WELL 41.1 (8) 7.2 - 48.3 (10) - 48.3
8. # Arnaud Boiteau (FRA), EXPO DU MOULIN 40.9 (7) 7.6 - 48.5 (11) - 48.5
9. Pippa Funnell (GBR), ENSIGN 37.8 (2) 4.8 - 42.6 (2) 8 = 50.6
10. # Didier Willefert (FRA), ESCAPE LANE *MILI 40.2 (5) 6.8 - 47.0 (8) 4 = 51.0
11. Daisy Dick (GBR), SPRING ALONG 47.2 (20) 6.0 - 53.2 (14) - 53.2
12. # Jeanette Brakewell (GBR), OVER TO YOU 50.2 (25) - - 50.2 (13) 4 = 54.2
13. Matthew Wright (GBR), PARK PILOT 55.0 (39) 0.4 - 55.4 (17) - 55.4
14. # Magnus Gallerdal (SWE), KEYMASTER 48.5 (22) 8.4 - 56.9 (20) 4 = 60.9
15. # Linda Algotsson (SWE), MY FAIR LADY 46.1 (18) 9.6 - 55.7 (18) 8 = 63.7
16. # Susanna Bordone (ITA), CARRERA III 40.4 (6) 18.8 - 59.2 (22) 6 = 65.2
17. # Vittoria Panizzon (ITA), ROCK MODEL 53.9 (32) 12.4 - 66.3 (29) - 66.3
18. # Hinrich Romeike (GER), MARIUS VOIGT-LOGISTIK 42.4 (10) 16.0 - 58.4 (21) 8 = 66.4
19. Peter Flarup (DEN), SILVER RAY 59.6 9470 3.2 - 62.8 (25) 4 = 66.8
20. Polly Stockton (GBR), TOM QUIGLEY 52.6 (29) 2.4 - 55.0 (16) 12 = 67.0
21. James Robinson (GBR), COMANCHE 46.1 (18) 3.2 - 49.3 (12) 18 = 67.3
22. # Anna Warnecke (GER), TWINKLE BEE 56.1 (41) - - 56.1 (19) 12 = 68.1
23. # Viktoria Carlerback (SWE), BALLYS GERONIMO 61.1 (53) 7.2 - 68.3 (30) - 68.3 23
24. # Bettina Hoy (GER), RINGWOOD COCKATOO 31.3 (1) 13.2 20 64.5 (27) 4 = 68.5
25. # Luisa Palli (ITA), AXIA 11 70.2 (62) - - 70.2 (32) - 70.2 (FODS)
26. # Pawel Spisak (POL), WERIUSZ 52.2 (28) 18.0 - 70.2 (33) - 70.2
27. Sarah Wardell (IRE), TEST FLIGHT 59.6 (47) 0.8 - 60.4 (23) 10 = 70.4
28. # Gilles Viricel (FRA), BLAKRING *MILI HN 58.7 (45) 12.0 - 70.7 (35) - 70.7
29. # Mark Kyle (IRE), DRUNKEN DISORDERLY 59.6 (47) 3.6 - 63.2 - 30
31. Didier Dhennin (FRA), ISMENE DU TEMPLE 44.6 (14) 9.2 20 73.8 (39) 4 = 77.8
30. # Dag Albert (SWE), WHOS BLITZ 64.8 (57) - - 64.8 (28) 8 = 72.8
32. # Constantin Van Rijckevorsel (BEL),WITHCOTE NELLIE 54.3 (35) 19.6 - 73.9 (40) 4 = 77.9
33. Jaroslav Hatla (CZECH), KYRENEJENNALLAS BOY 57.6 (44) 17.2 - 74.8 (41) 4 = 78.8
34. # Michael Ryan (IRE), OLD ROAD 67.4 (61) 8.4 - 75.8 (42) 4 = 79.8
35. # Raf Kooremans (BEL), TELSTAR 47.2 (20) 21.2 - 68.4 (31) 12 = 80.4
36. Tobias Gronberg (SWE), AMARETTO 59.8 (51) 12.8 - 72.6 (38) 8 = 80.6
37. # Lukasz Kazimierczak (POL), OSTLER 53.9 (32) 8.8 - 62.7 (24) 20 = 82.7
38. Niall Griffin (IRE), LORGAINE 53.7 (30) 18.8 - 72.5 (37) 12 = 84.5
39. # Alberto Giugni (ITA), THE NIGHTFLIGHT 53.9 (32) 23.2 - 77.1 (45) 10 = 87.1
40. # Jonty Evans (IRE), CREGWARRIOR 51.7 (27) 18.8 - 70.5 (34) 18 = 88.5
41. # Carl Bouckaert (BEL), RAMPANT LION 64.8 (57) 12.0 - 76.8 (43) 12 = 88.8
42. Jennifer Eicher (SUI), AGENT MULDER 58.7 (45) 20.8 - 79.5 (46) 1 = 91.5
43. Oliver Townend (GBR), TOPPING 45.2 (16) 11.6 20 76.8 (44) 15 = 91.8
44. Katrin Norling (SWE), PANDORA EMM 56.7 (42) 14.8 - 71.5 (36) 21 = 92.5
45. Polly Jackson (GBR), TWO FOR JOY 54.6 (37) 14.4 20 89.0 (51) 11 = 100.0
46. Pepo Puch (CROATIA), BANVILLE D'IVOY 61.7 (56) 26.4 - 88.1 (49) 13 = 101.1
47. # Harald Siegl (AUSTRIA), NEBELWERFER 59.6 (47) 28.4 - 88.0 (48) 15 = 103.0
48. # Harald Ambros (AUSTRIA),MISS FERRARI 54.3 (35) 9.2 20 83.5 (47) 21 = 104.5
49. Malene Moller (DEN), PATCH 53.7 (30) 25.6 20 99.3 (53) 8 = 107.3
50. # Frederico Mexia (PORTUGAL), PEGASO 77.6 (66) 11.2 - 88.8 (50) 21 = 109.8
51. Katerina Tumpachova (CZECH), INCHAGREINE 78.3 (67) 39.2 20 137.5 (54) 4 = 141.5
52. # Nicolas Touzaint (FRA),HILDAGO DE L'ILE 50.0 (24) 46.4 65 161.4 (55) 3 = 164.4
53. # Pawel Rutkowski (POL), FORDANSER 77.0 (65) 41.6 80 198.6 (56) 16 = 214.6
54. Nikolay Tomochko (UKRAINE), ELKASAR Nikolay Tomochko 61.1 (53) 61.6 125 247.7 (57) 16 = 263.7
ELIM - VET: Jean Lou Bigot (FRA) DERBY DE LONGUEVAL 44.4 (13) - - 44.4 (5)
WITHDRAWN: # Susan Shortt (IRE), JUST BEAUTY QUEEN 55.0 (39) 16.0 20 91.0 (52)
WITHDRAWN: # Leslie Law (GBR), SHEAR L'EAU 42.6 (11) 11.6 - 54.2 (15)
ELIM: # Christoph Heiden (AUSTRIA), BALLYSCARTAN HERO 61.1 (53)
ELIM: # Matilde Stilwell (POR), JADEL DE FOJA 65.7 (60)
RETIRED: Kitty Boggis (GBR), FIVE BOYS 49.4 (23)
RETIRED: # Duarte Seabra (POR), ZEBEDEE VIII 71.5 (63)
RETIRED: Lisa Deghe (ITA), NARCISO 2 54.8 (38)
RETIRED: Andrey Grishin (RUSSIA), SKAMPOLO 60.7 (52)
RETIRED: Aistis Vitkauskas (LITH)HOJAGERGARDS CANDIS 71.5 (63)
RETIRED: # Jerzy Krukowski (POL), DONNA SARA 50.4 (26)
RETIRED: # Carlos Grave (POR), LAUGHTON HILLS 56.7 (42)
WITHDRAWN: Geoffroy De Jamblinne (BEL), IRIS W 65.4 (59)
WITHDRAWN BEFORE DRESSAGE: Andriy Senin (UKRAINE), FORSING

# = Team Member

Numbers in parentheses are placings after Dressage and Cross Country.

FODS = Finished On Dressage Score

TEAM RESULTS:

1. GREAT BRITAIN - 136.5

2. FRANCE - 170.2

3. GERMANY - 182.9

4. SWEDEN - 192.9

5. ITALY - 201.7

6. BELGIUM - 205.5

7. IRELAND - 240.5

8. POLAND - 367.5

DNF - AUSTRIA

DBF - PORTUGAL