11th European Sports Championship for Arabian Horses in Janów Podlaski

Last weekend, 18-20 July, the Janów Podlaski Stud hosted a prestigious event, the 11th European Sports Championship for Arabian Horses. 67 horses from 5 European countries took part. Alongside horses from Polish herds, it was attended by horses from Austria, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the UK. The Championship was held in compliance with the ECAHO rules. The competitions included Dressage, Show Jumping and Western Pleasure.The magic of Janów Podlaski combined with the unusual view of riders wearing cowboy hats and elegant ladies in beautiful historical outfits accompanied by galloping horses allowed the audiences and the participants to travel in time. Let us relive it all...

Over the course of two days, the contestants took part in competitions such as dressage, jumps, speed (400 m), Ladies Side Saddle, Classic Pleasure, Native Costume (that is Arab and Oriental outfits), Polish Historical Costume and in Western categories: Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Reining, Trial, Pole Bending, and the separately held Type & Conformation: the presentation of horses.

In "Classic All Around" the first prize went to Viktoria Palmaer from Sweden and her stud Bimaal. The silver medal was won by Tove Røy from Denmark on Padrons Must, and bronze went to Manja Hoehme from Germany and her horse El Samalon.

Polish riders presented themselves very well during the jump finals. Gold was deservedly won by Daria Klimecka on Walor. Silver went to Josefina Lekander-Uggla from Sweden on Janiool. Poland's Krzysztof Karczmarz on dark-skinned Pedagog won the bronze medal. These pairs were truly great.

In the "Western" category the Austrian team got the lead. In the "All Around Western" category, combining the total score from selected disciplines, gold, silver and bronze remained in their hands, therefore confirming their high level in this discipline. Nevertheless, Marek Suliga on his grey stud El Moro deserves an ovation; they were the Polish element in the "Western" category.

"Pole Bending", consisting in a slalom among poles, raised significant interest. Our contestants won this competition! Gold went to Kinga Klinicka and her mare Gardeja. The pair represented an equestrian club from Michałów. The amazon completed the course in 27.68 seconds. Right after her came Viktoria Palmaer on Bimaal, while Natalia Ciman, an amazon from Janów Podlaski's equestrian club, on Sabat came third.

Gardeja

The Ladies Side Saddle also featured a Polish taste, with our contestants showcasing their skills. Danuta Konończuk on Perseusz won the first prize like a true lady. Silver went to Austria's Barbara Kristen on Avellan Qahir. The third lady to stand on the podium was Agnieszka Helbik-Kuśmierz on grey Piaff.

The costume competitions remained the domain of the Polish contestants. Our amazons were indisputably the stars of that competition. Katarzyna Stawiska on her grey stud Barbarossa won the first prize and gold, while the second prize went to Kaja Dembińska and Echo Apollo. Bronze went to Agnieszka Oktabiańczuk on Encina.

Aleksandra Owerko on Metropolis won the next costume competition, this time a typically Polish one: the Polish Historical Costume. Right behind her came Agnieszka Kolek-Kowieska on her stud Almanzor. Both amazons represented Janów Podlaski with pride. The third prize went to Paulina Mucha, an amazon from Michałów, and her horse Grafik.

The looks of the Polish Arabians were widely commented on. In the "Classic Type & Conformation" category, the first prize went to Alert presented by Agnieszka Kolek-Kowierska; silver went to Grafik, while the mare Gardeja won the bronze medal. 

It was the first time that Janów Podlaski played host to the European Sports Championships. The Janów Stud was thoroughly prepared, having already held national competitions, and having hosted riders from abroad last year. Arabian horses have once more proved that their mystical beauty and above-average intelligence go hand in hand with their comprehensive use and the willingness to work with people. It has been rumoured that next year's scenario for the European Sports Championships for Arabian Horses will also be written in Janów...

The detailed scores can be found on the website of the Janów Podlaski Stud: http://www.janow.arabians.pl/pl/pokazy/me-2014/wyniki.php 

Jolanta Gębka

 
Alert

Baikal's Shangrila

Bello

Bimaal

Eryks

Padrons Must

Perseusz