SWEDEN continued the trail they have been blazing at every championship, adding the European title to their Olympic and world golds, with their sights set firmly on another Olympic title in Paris in 2024.
As was the case at the World Championships in Herning last year, Sweden secured gold before their last combination, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Zuccero, had even entered the ring.
Their score was so far ahead that had they needed to count Henrik von Eckermann’s four faults on Iliana – their first fence of the week – they would still have been triumphant.
As it was, Rolf, at 61 the oldest rider at the championships, jumped a superb and nonchalant clear anyway with Zuccero, making the victory all the sweeter.
But for the rest, it had been a day of ups and downs. It was a championship final at its finest, with the morning’s leaders Germany, and Switzerland, among the teams hopping on and off the virtual podium as poles fell. In the end, it was Ireland whose consistency and quality won the silver, with Austria the surprise of the championships taking a well-earned, hardfought bronze.
“I’m lost for words,” said Swedish chef d’équipe Henrik Ankarcrona. “It’s the first time Sweden has won the European title in showjumping. I’ve been trying to bring up new combinations and to get riders to
