Christopher Hector set out to answer the question…
The decision to run World Young Eventing Horse Championships was taken not all that long ago, but start searching for the results and then the problems begin. The organizers at Lion d’Angers try to help with an archive section but sadly some of the records have been lost, for 1987 for instance, Les archives sur cette année sont pratiquement inexistantes ou introuvables. The other records are pretty light on for information, it is not until 2006, that the results come beautifully set out with sire, dam and dam sire – it’s the same for 2007, then the organizers revert to the earlier, no breeding format for 2008- 2009, then in 2010 they work out how to do it right again. Thanks guys!
I really couldn’t find out when the championships actually started but luckily the French equestrian journalist, Catherine Vollaire took pity on my plight and went back through her articles and cleared the air.
The three day event at Lion d’Angers, started in 1986, and in 1987, the organisers introduced a special ranking for young horses from 6 to 8 years old – le Criterium mondial des jeunes chevaux, running an event within an event, in the CCI class.
In 1990, Brittany Ferries picked up the naming rights and it was the Trophée mondial des jeunes chevaux Brittany Ferries, and the next year, the entire event became known as the Mondial du Lion, still with young and old horses competing in the same class with two sets of placings.
In 1997, the entries were limited to horses aged 6 to 8 years old competing in the first World Championships for Young Eventing Horse Championships. The next year, the age group was reduced to 6 and 7, but still competing over the same course. It was not until 2000 that the ages were split into six and seven year old championships. The 6 year olds run over a CCI* track with the 7 year olds tackling a CIC**.
It’s a pity that the young horses were not being honored the first year Lion d’Angers was held, since the 4th place getter in 1986, was only 6 years old and went on to be a European champion with Ginny Leng – Master Craftsman. The gelding was by the Thoroughbred, Master Spiritus – a regular source of stars in the young horse division.
Ginny Leng and Master Craftsman
The records have been lost for the years, 87, 88 and 89, but the event archives for 1990, list the placegetters, with the young horses tagged with a ‘$’. Thus we learn in 1991 that the best placed young horse was the 8 year old stallion, Jumbo, ridden by Andrew Nicholson into sixth. The horse went on to compete advanced, and has been a very good sire of eventers.
The next year, the class is actually won by one of the young horses, Tobi de Marillet (by the Thoroughbred Djarvis out of a Selle Français / Anglo Arab mare) ridden by Jean Teulère. The gelding went on to an honest eventing career, and eight years later, was still earning his oats, placing 14th in the French Junior championship with Mathieu Lemoine.
But there were some young horses that year that would go on to be superstars in ‘the big sport’: Welton Romance (Welton Louis / Welton House xx) was 4th with Ginny Leng and went on to win a European Championship with Lucy Thompson in 1995, while the 8th placegetters, Jean-Lou Bigot and Twist La Beige (solidly bred Anglo Arab, by Djahill aa) took individual gold at the Euro Champs of 1993 and went on to place 12th at the Sydney Games. The young horse in 12th place was to become another of the modern greats, Yarlands Summer Song and Marie-Christine Duroy. Summer Song was one of the early attempts at breeding for eventing – he was by the Trakehner, and advanced eventer, Fleetwater Opposition, out of a mare by Welton Gameful, a product of the late Sam Barr’s event horse breeding program. An Olympic and WEG competitor, Summer Song is now proving an exceptional sire of eventers. To round out the class of 92, Andrew Nicholson’s Jagermeister (by the Trakhener Polarschnee ) went on to carry him to team bronze at Atlanta.
I guess by now you are getting the impression that a good number of the young horses at Lion d’Angers went on to distinguished open age careers. In 1993, we find another Marie-Christine Duroy ride, Ut du Placineau B (by Funny Hobby xx) who she rode in the individual event at the Atlanta Games and Rodolphe Scherrer’s Urane des Pins (by Easter Grey) who he rode in the teams event at Atlanta. Interestingly, both these Selle Français branded horses are by Thoroughbred sires.
The class of 94 produced some more stars: the winner of the young horse title, King Solomon III (by Old Lucky xx), 2nd in the young horses, Hinnegar (Enchantment xx), 4th, Get Sharpe (Henricus xx) and down in 15th place, best of the crop, Kentucky winner, Welton Envoy – certainly purpose bred for eventing, by Welton Gameful (3/4 Thoroughbred, ¼ Irish) out of a mare by Ben Fairie – a Thoroughbred sire of eventers including World Champion, Priceless and European Champion, Nightcap.
In 1997, the young horse winner, Dope Doux (Selle Français, by the half bred, Fort Grandchamp out of an Anglo Arab mare) with Marie-Christine Duroy, was also the open class winner. Dope Doux was still competing in 2003 with the Spanish rider, Enrique Sarasola. Leslie Law’s international star, Sheer H20, finished 8th on the young horse standings, while Linda Algottson’s wonderful Stand by Me was 18th – Stand by Me is by the Swedish Warmblood stallion, Stanford, out of Princess Fair xx, who is the dam of La Fair, ridden by Linda at the 2012 Games, and La Fair is the dam of Wega, who so nearly carried Linda’s sister Sara to a gold medal at Greenwich!
In 1998 the event (and the young horse class) was won by another superstar, Ingrid Klimke’s grey Thoroughbred, Sleep Late (by Kuwait Beach xx), with Owen Moore and Lord Killinghurst (by Sulaafah out of a Hanoverian / Thoroughbred mare) in 3rd – the number 3 was to haunt the horse – ridden by Andrew Nicholson, he was 3rd at Burghley, three years in a row. The pair represented New Zealand at the 2006 WEG and 2008 Games. The 5th placegetter, Didier Courreges’ Debat d’Estruval, went on to the Athens Games.
Andrew Nicholson and Lord Killinghurst
In 2000 the young horse championships are for the first time separated into a 6 year old and a 7 year old title.
The six year old winner was Nicolas Touzaint’s Galan de Sauvagère by the Selle Français grandson of Ibrahim, Joly Jumper out of a Thoroughbred mare. The grey went on to compete at both the 2004 and 2008 Games, as well as winning the Euro Champs, and the Eventing World Cup final.
The 7 year old winner, Pippa Funnel’s Prinmore’s Pride went on to a stellar career, winning both Kentucky and Burghley in 2003 (and helping Pippa take the Grand Slam), carried her to individual bronze at the Athens Games, and in 2005 became the first horse to win three Four Star events, when he took out Badminton. He again demonstrates the wisdom of breeding purpose bred eventers, since he is by Mark Todd’s eventing Thoroughbred, Mayhill (aka Fair Oak), out of Prinmore Hill, herself an Advanced eventer, and by that great sire of eventers, Ben Fairie xx.
The 3rd placegetter, Didier Courreges’ Free Style went on the to WEG in Jerez.
The 2001, Six Year old champion, Histoire de Triballe, brought French rider, Karim Laghouag into international ranks, while the 3rd placegetter, Hildago de l’le took Nicolas Touzaint to the 2006 WEG and the London Games, where they were 12th. The Australian pair of Clayton Fredericks and Ben A Long Time were 4th – they went on to be members of the silver medal winning team at Hong Kong, and the gelding carried Clayton to second place at the WEG 2006.
Galan de Sauvagères and Nicolas Touzaint were back the next year to take the 7 year old title. In second place we find German star, Andreas Dibowski on the Hanoverian, Serve Well, his ride at the 2006 WEG and second at Badminton the following year. The third placegetter, Private Collin went on to place 6th at Badminton with his rider, Sam Griffiths.
The 2002 Six Year old winners, Didier Dhennin and Ismène du Temple went on to represent France at the Beijing Olympics where they were sixth individually.
In the 7 year old championship, Nicolas Touzaint once again found Lion d’Angers a happy hunting ground, winning with Hildago de l’Ile moving up from 3rd the previous year to 1st. The horse went on to take Nicolas to the first ever French victory at Badminton, and also won at Pau**** and was 4th at Kentucky ****.
Nicolas Touzaint and Hildago de l’le
Right down the list in 27th spot we find Frank Ostholt and Air Jordan. The horse was Frank’s ride at Athens, and together they won team gold at the Aachen WEG.
In 2004, a new name appears on the winner’s board but one that is to have a lasting impact – Michaël Jung. Riding the Trakehner stallion, Grafenstolz, Jung did what he has done so many times in his career – led from start to finish in the six year old class. Grafenstolz was a sensation in Germany when he qualified for the Bundeschampionate in showjumping, eventing and dressage, winning the eventing on a score of 9.7. After his success at Lion d’Angers he went on to place at three star level eventing, to showjump, and compete in dressage at Prix St Georges level. He has also become a successful sire.
Nicolas Touzaint followed up his 6 year old win on Joker d’Helby with a win in the 7 year old class, the following year, but unlike most of Touzaint’s young horses, this one did not go on to be a star. The second horse did – Tina Cook’s Miner’s Frolic, 3rd at Beijing, 6th at London. The third horse is also pretty handy, Frank Ostholt’s Little Paint, was 2nd at Lumühlen**** in 2008 and 3rd in 2011.
In 2006, Michael Jung was equal first after the dressage on a newcomer, La Biosthetique-Sam (Stan the Man xx / Heraldik xx) but dropped to 2nd with a rail in the showjumping, to finish behind the Swedish combination of Niklas Lindbäck and Mister Pooh (by the Dutch bred Majim G out of a Thoroughbred grand-daughter of Tudor Minstrel). Niklas and Mister Pooh were 5th at Badminton in 2011, and represented Sweden at the 2010 WEG, and the London Games.
The 7 year old winner, Aurélien Khan’s Lord de Ligniere had a moderate later career, his best result 7th at Saumur*** in 2011.
The 4th placegetter, Sam Griffiths’ Happy Times went on to represent Australia at both the Kentucky WEG and the London Games, but failed to finish on both occasions. They were however 3rd at Badminton in 2009 and 4th in 2011.
Mr Medicott in 5th went on to compete successfully with Frank Ostholt, representing Germany at the Beijing Games, before he was sold and ridden for the USA at the London Games by Karen O’Connor.
The horse is 23rd place is interesting, Armada, with Andrew Nicholson. No super star, an 8th at Burghley**** in 2008 was their best result, but Armada is the full-brother to Nicholson’s ride at the London Games, Nereo. Both are by the Spanish Thoroughbred, Fines out of Berganza who is by the Hanoverian Golfi, a great grandson of Gotthard, with Grande on the mare line. The horses were bred by retired Spanish eventer, Ramon Beca, who has once again demonstrated that if you really want to breed eventers, it is not so difficult.
The Seven year old championship is won by Piggy French and the Irish bred, Cast Away II (Clover Brigade / Cruising) who duly disappears, although the same cannot be said of the 2nd placegetter, Michael Jung’s London gold medallist, La Biosthetique-Sam. Andrew Nicholson’s 4th placegetter, Avesbury (by Jumbo – remember him, 6th in 91 – out of a mare by the Thoroughbred Bairn) went on to place 8th at Burghley and 10th at Badminton in 2011. The fifth placegetter, Mary King’s Kings Temptress (Primitive Rising xx / Louella Inschallah) was another megastar – first at Kentucky, third at Burghley in 2011.
2008 brings a new name to the winner’s circle, William Fox-Pitt who takes the six year old title on the stallion, Oslo who went on to win Pau four star in 2011. Oslo is by the Lando, silver medalist in the showjumping at Sydney out of a French mare by Hadj aa, out of a Jalisco mare. There are no superstars in the top 8 in the 7 year old championship, but the 9th placegetter, Wega was to earn her, and Sara Algotsson-Ostholt’s place in history at the London Games. Wega is by Irco Mena, a nice balance of Dutch and Irish breeding, out of La Fair by the Swedish stallion, Labrador.
The winners of the 6 year old title in 2009 are Mathieu Lemoine and Petrus de la Triballe (Selle Français by Sarastro aa, out of a great-grand-daughter of Galoubet) – first at Breda CIC*** in 2012. Second to Andreas Dibowski and a stallion that is causing a lot of excitement, Mighty Magic, and so he should – he is by Mytens, a Thoroughbred jumping sire that stood at Jan Greve’s famed Watermill Stud out of Neika by Heraldik, out of the Holsteiner mare, Fiona, who carried two crosses of Ladykiller xx. The stallion was to come back the next year and take the 7 year old title. Since then he has competed three star, but taken back to two star, his best result in 2012 has been a 13th at Kreuth CIC**, which would stop me sending a mare to him…
Andreas Dibowski and Mighty Magic
Down in 9th place we find another of the Dibowski team, and another of the superstars from the breeding program of Fritz Butts, FRH Butts Avedon (Healdix xx / Kronenkranich xx) who was 3rd at Lumühlen CCI**** .
In 2009, Charlie Weld and Oslo were take first and second in the 7 year olds, with an exciting new combination in 3rd – Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo – stars in the gold medal winning German team in London. The Selle Français, Opgun Louvo, is by Shogun II, a son of the great Thoroughbred, Night and Day, out of a mare by international showjumping star, J’T’Adore – a grandson of Furioso xx.
Sara Algotsson-Ostholt and Mrs Medicott (Hanoverian branded, but by the Holsteiner, Rabino out of a mare by Prince Thatch xx) take the 2010 Six Year old title while Andreas makes it one / two in the Seven Year old class. First on Mighty Magic and second on FRF Butts Avedon. Borough Pennyz (Cevin Z / Dutch Gold) who took Vittoria Panizzon so stylishly round the London cross country course, is eighth.
Michael Jung and Rocana FST
The winner in 2011 was once again, Micheal Jung, this time riding Rocana FST, by the Thoroughbred, Ituango out of a mare by the Hanoverian, Carismo who is in turn by the Holsteiner, Calypso II – I guess that is one thing that surprises me about this little survey. We have become used to eventers by Holsteiner stallions out of Thoroughbred, or largely Thoroughbred, mares, starring in the sport, but they have not been so noticeable at the Young Horse Championships… perhaps they mature a little more slowly.
The 2011 7 year old champions were the British rider, Kitty King and the Dutch bred, Zidante (Polydox / Voltaire), the pair had been 3rd the previous year. They went on to place third at Blenheim CCI*** in 2012.
It has to be said that these World Young Horse Championships have produced an extraordinary number of horses that go on to be genuine international stars. In Australia we run young horse classes where the event is an amalgam of dressage and showjumping, and the classes are usually won by fat Warmbloods who never get anywhere in open competition. Lion d’Angers is different, at the heart of their championships are real live cross country courses, courses that favor real eventers.
It seems to me crazy that all our Australian Three Day events tend to try and attract the same group of horses and riders, why doesn’t one of them have the gumption to set itself up as the Australian Young Eventing Horse Championships? Follow the French example, with the Six year old championship run as a class within a class in the one star, and the Seven year old championship, run within the two star. The winning horses could then earn the right to go to Lion d’Angers and compete in the World Championships…
Now that would be a great addition to the Australian eventing scene.
This article first appeared in the April 2014 issue of THM.