Giuseppe Prevosti FEI European Champion Senior Division

As could be expected, the senior individual final was to be really tough competition between top class riders and horses. In the end, it was Italy again that claimed its 6th gold medal at this event! Giuseppe Prevosti and Skeets Flamin (owner Enzo Gola) scored a 226.5 after a brilliant ride with fast spins, fine circles and dramatic slides.

Prevosti, who is French NRHA, AIQH and PHCI Futurity Champion, Italian Champion, multiple ERAA Futurity Champion Open and NRHA European Futurity Champion Open Level 2/3, has got the 7-year-old stallion by Skeets Peppy since April. “Kelly Zweifel trained him,” he said.“and she did an awesome job! He is such a great minded horse. I’m so happy! And I would like to thank Enzo Gola for giving me this wonderful horse,  Lara Maiocchi and of course our trainer and coach Filippo Masi for his confidence in me!“

The silver medal was claimed by  Davide Brighenti (ITA) and Dualin For Me, a 14-year-old stallion by  Dual Peppy owned by Giovanni Franco. Brighenti was in the Italian team that won gold at the World Championship in Manerbio. “I’m so glad – I can’t believe it,” said Davide. „And what is even more: my great friend ‚Pepe‘ (Giuseppe Prevost) has won the gold medal! Thanks to my family and my Dad for helping me all the time, and of course to Giovanni Franco for his fine horse!“

It was bad luck in the first maneuvre or else Austria might have claimed the gold medal…  Austrian Rudi Kronsteiner and Ima Mega Antares (owner Andrea Castrucci) lost three points when slowing down after the first fast circle which ended in a 225 after an otherwise brilliant ride.

That meant the bronze medal for the two who had been Reserve European Champion in 2009.  “It was my fault,” explained Rudi afterwards. „I asked him too suddenly and then I got that reaction. Ima Mega Antares was perfect otherwise. I’m angry at myself – but that’s how the sport is. Giuseppe and Davide were simply better and deserved to win.“

Bernard Fonck (BEL) astride  Rickie Cody Pine 023 and his wife Ann Fonck-Poels astride  Splendit As Gump BB tied for fourth place scoring a 224. There was another tie on the sixth place (score 222.5) between Martin Muhlstatter (AUT) riding  Dun It On The QT and Rieky Young (NED)  riding  Brady Chex . Cira Baeck (BEL) and Gump Wasa Gambler BB placed eighth (222).

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