Young dressage rider takes top podium place with double gold

Annabella Pidgely becomes the fourth British rider in the event’s history to be named FEI European Champion

At only 18, Annabella Pidgely, has made British Dressage history by winning double European gold. Riding her mother’s German-bred mare, Espe (Escolar X Dimaggio), Annabella secured gold medals in both the Individual and Freestyle classes in the Young Rider age category at the FEI European Championship in Pilisjászfalu, Hungary.

At the championship competition for young riders and U25s, which ran from 12-16 July, Annabella was also joined by her coach and mentor, double Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin. She started the week by leading the British team to a bronze medal before going on to gain three personal best scores across the whole competition.

In total, 18 riders competed in the freestyle section, with Annabella taking the top podium position, having achieved 80.505%, just 0.85% ahead of Danish rider, Alexander Yde Helgstrand.

Prior to Annabella’s win, only three British Dressage riders had previously achieved FEI European Champion status: Charlotte Dujardin (Senior), Charlotte Fry (U25 Grand Prix; 16–25) and Phoebe Peters (Pony; 12–16).

British Dressage CEO, Jason Brautigm, said: “Everyone at British Dressage is thrilled by this success, so on behalf of the board, staff and wider team, I would like to congratulate Annabella and the Young Rider team on their outstanding performance in Hungary.

“The last time we secured a team medal was back in 2005 – and these are the first-ever individual dressage medals won by a British athlete at the FEI Young Rider European Championships.  These achievements are testament to the hours of hard work and dedication given to the sport by the riders, parents, coaches and support teams, and we are enormously grateful for their contribution.”

Annabella was full of praise for Espe and, commenting on her win, she said: “It’s a dream come true to become European Champion. It’s our first Young Rider European Championships and to come away with the first individual Young Rider medal in British Dressage history, and that being a gold medal, is quite incredible.”

For more information on the FEI European Dressage Championships, visit https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/

Photo credit: Łukasz Kowalski / British Dressage