Local youngster strikes gold

Published on 14th August 2008 in Ents

Great Heck rider Emma Stoker has returned from the Pony European Show Jumping Championships with a gold medal, on what was her European team debut.

The hugely talented 15-year-old, who is home-tutored, was on the British team out at the Championships in Avenches, Switzerland, with her bay 148cms pony Peron III.

The team competition was a tense two-round affair and Britain was behind the leading pack after the first round.

Three teams were sharing first place on four faults, with Britain in a group on eight faults at that stage. However, they fought back bravely in the second round to add just one more time penalty to that total, finishing on nine faults and ahead of the Netherlands on 15 faults, with Germany on a 16-fault total in third.

Emma and Peron produced a great performance in the first round, where they had just one fence down over a testing course to keep Britain in the hunt.

"Unfortunately, though, Peron was badly bitten by insects out in Switzerland," explained mum Mrs Sarah Stoker.

"He had lots of little bites, which didn't bother him, but then had two really bad ones, one under his right elbow and one just under the saddle." 

The serious bites left Peron a 'different animal' and he lost his form in the second round and had the last three fences down, although he bravely completed.

"We then pulled him out of the individual competition and the vets were able to give him steroids and painkillers to help deal with the problem," Mrs Stoker added. "Emma was so disappointed as I'm sure her pony would have had a chance of making the individual medals.  At least she did get to stand on the rostrum to receive her team gold though."

Mrs Stoker described the venue as 'amazing' with the most 'breath-taking scenery and excellent facilities' but problems continued to dog the family on the return journey.

"Our horsebox's radiator decided to die on the way back, over 700 miles from home," Mrs Stoker commented.  "Luckily Emma went home with her squad mate Jessica Drea so Peron is now back and recovering."