Show jumping’s super promise Jone Illi won the European Championship after competing for the first time in the Junior age group at the European Championships in Spain.
16:20•Updated 16:32
Finland Jon Illi won the Junior steeplechase with the European championship horse Eolita L. The 14-year-old equestrian talent competed for the first time in the Junior age group.
Illi went to the last round of Saturday’s steeplechase final in the lead of the overall competition and rode to the European Championship gold with a clean performance. The championship time was 64.89 seconds.
– I’m still completely speechless, and I haven’t been able to internalize the situation at all. I didn’t know how to expect gold, Illi commented in the announcement of the Riders’ Association.
The competition consisted of five rounds, of which two final rounds were ridden on Saturday. In the first competition, Illi dropped an obstacle and got 3.03 fault points. All other competitions Illi and Eolita L rode without mistakes.
Finland’s team leader Markus Backlund believes that young Illi’s championship will have far-reaching effects on the entire sport. Hearing the Maamme song at the European Championships was an emotional moment for the team.
– It was also wonderful to notice how the big equestrian countries have taken our little Finland into consideration here on the edge of the competition arena. The team managers of other countries could not believe that Jone Illi is only 14 years old, Backlund said in the release.
Two weeks ago, Illi won the Junior PM and team gold. This season, Illi already has almost 20 KV class wins up to the 140 level.
The European Junior Steeplechase Championships will be held in Spain. The Belgian won the silver Aurelia Guisson and No Limit vh Leigta Hof Z. Bronze went to the Belgian, who had been leading the race for a long time Evelyne Putters on the horse Nabeau van her Migroveld Z.