The all-female British team who took gold at Avenches in 2021 — plus individual bronze medallist Sarah Bullimore — embark on their lap of honour after a clean sweep of the medals at the European Championships. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
We’re officially just ninety days away from this year’s European Eventing Championships, which heads to the north of France and the impressive Haras du Pin stud. With a course designed by Paris 2024 designer Pierre le Gouptil and two Olympic berths on the line, it’s set to be hot, hot, hot – so let’s take a closer look at some of the finer points of the competition, set to run from August 9–13.
36: The Haras National du Pin is hosting the 36th edition of the FEl Eventing European Championship. This is the fourth time the competition has been held in France, after a first in 1969, already at the Haras du Pin, then in 2001 in Pau and finally in 2009 in Fontainebleau. Great Britain holds the record for organizing the event with 11 times on its ground. Germany follows with 7 events.
54: The number of years since the first FEI Eventing European Championship at the Haras du Pin, in 1969. At that time, Great Britain won the team competition ahead of the Soviet Union and West Germany. God Save the Queen was also played in individual competition thanks to Mary Gordon Watson on Cornishman.
1995: The year of creation of Ustica, the organizing association of this FEl Eventing European Championship. Chaired by Valérie Moulin, Ustica has for many years demonstrated its know-how in the organisation of international events, notably the French leg of the FEl Eventing Nations Cup. In 2021 the association celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Grand Complet, a major event in the international calendar.
300: The number of French and European volunteers of all ages mobilised this summer for the FEl Eventing European Championship supported by many public and private partners.
80 & 20: Approximately 80 couples will compete in Normandy with the hope of succeeding the British Nicola Wilson, crowned in 2021 in Avenches (Switzerland) with JL Dublin, ahead of her compatriots Piggy March (Brookfield Innocent) and Sarah Bullimore (Corouet). Riders will represent about 20 nations. By team, Great Britain will defend the title acquired two years ago in front of Germany and Sweden.
2: The nations that will leave the FEl Eventing European Championship with their Olympic qualification. Six European countries are already qualified for the Paris Olympic Games (France, host country, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland). The two best nations (Northern Europe and Southern Europe zones) of the FEl Eventing European Championship, excluding countries already qualified, will therefore win their ticket to Paris 2024 in Normandy.
3: Different tests. Pairs will have to perform a dressage test, a cross-country test and finally a show jumping test. A real equestrian triathlon requiring new qualities each day such as sublety, endurance, speed and dexterity.
30: The number of cross-country fences and 41 efforts. Pierre Le Goupil, course designer for the next Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 as well as for the Panamerican Games in Quillota (CHI) in October 2023, has taken advantage of all the particularities of the Haras National du Pin ground to create a selective course of approximately 6,000 metres while preserving the integrity of horses and riders. The competitors will have to overcome a series of difficulties, including fords, up-hills, downhills, ditches, trunks and directional obstacles.
570: The average speed in metres per minute that the pairs will have to maintain on the cross-country test if they want to finish within the time allowed.
30,000: Spectators expected on the four days of competition. Saturday, August 12 will be the busiest day with the traditional and always spectacular cross-country test held at the heart of the Haras National du Pin within a 50 hectares park.
6: The most advantageous entry fee (in €) for the FEI European Eventing Championships (horse inspection followed by the opening ceremony on Wednesday 9 August). The ticketing service offers multiple possibilities with, in addition to the daily tickets, numerous packages and formulas. In order to facilitate access to the competition venue, a system of paying parking lots, accessible only on presale, has been set up.
11: European medals won by Michael Jung, who remains the greatest medals winner in eventing. At the European level, the German has already won three individual titles (2011, 2013 and 2015), two silver medals (2017 and 2019) and one bronze (2009). In team competition, he won four gold medals (2011, 2013, 2015 and 2019) and one silver (2021).
87: The medals won by Great Britain in individual and team competition since the first edition of the FEI Eventing European Championship: 42 gold (23 in team competition), 26 silver and 19 bronze. The record, far ahead of Germany (42 medals including 12 gold) and. France (22 medals including 3 gold, individually, thanks to Jean-Lou Bigot in 1993 with Twist La Beige, and Nicolas Touzaint in 2003 and 2007 with Galan de Sauvagère).
The box office is open for the 2023 European Eventing Championships at Haras du Pin, taking place from August 9–13. Click here to get yours!
