SWINDON rider Lila Bremner helped Great Britain’s Team LeMieux claim a silver medal at the Pony European Championships

Sunday’s Team Final in Strzegom, Poland, was a dramatic affair, with all three medals having to be fought for in a third-round jump-off.

Having already jumped three rounds, where the best three scores count, Great Britain and Ireland sat at the top of the leaderboard on an equal score of four penalties, with France and Germany tied for third on 12 penalties.

With medals at stake it meant that all riders, within the four teams, would be forced to come forward and battle it out in a final jump-off round to decide the final placings on the podium.

Riding nine-year-old gelding Lapislazuli, Bremner posted a clear for the team to return home faultlessly within a time of 45.76 seconds.

However, that was not enough to help Great Britain claim victory overall, with the 16-year-old having to settle for a silver medal as the Irish pipped them to top spot on the podium. France won bronze.

Clare Whitaker, Chef d’Equipe for the Pony Team and British Showjumping youth team manager, said: “This was an extremely tough competition, one of the hardest I’ve seen, and each and every team member has been quite outstanding.

“The pressure they have ridden under has been intense and they have all ridden with talent and maturity that goes far beyond their years. I am so proud of them, I really am.”