The European Eventing Championships, like most other European Championships, is held every two years. Today it is a four star eventing competition. A four star event is one step down from the grand slam which consists of three five star events.
The first Championships were held at Badminton in 1953, where six teams (Britain, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland) were sent, although only Britain and Switzerland were able to get their horses fit in time to actually compete. However, 10 teams were able to compete at the 1959 competition.
The 1995 and 1997 European Championships were held as part of events open to non-European riders (in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy in 1995 and Burghley, England in 1997) with the top three European individuals and teams receiving medals. The first woman to win the competition was Shelia Wilcox in 1957, although women were not allowed to compete in the Olympics in eventing until 1964.
There is also a Championship held for young riders, juniors and ponies.
The Championships offers both team and individual gold, silver, and bronze medals.
Each nation may bring a team of four riders and two individuals. The team riders also compete for the individual gold, silver, and bronze medals. The host nation may bring up to eight individual riders, with a total squad of 12.
The best three scores among the teams—the team with the lowest number of penalty points—receive the gold, silver, and bronze medals. However, a team must have at least three riders completing the competition, or else they will be eliminated. If a team has four riders complete, there is a drop-score in their results. If three riders complete, all three scores are added into the final total for the team.
Beginning in 2005, the European Eventing Championships was held in the short-format, without the phases A, B, and C (roads and tracks, and steeplechase) on speed and endurance day. It included just the dressage, cross-country, and show jumping phases.
The competition begins with a horse inspection to make sure all competing horses are sound before beginning the dressage. Then the nations nominate their four team riders and the order they wish them to compete, before the order of nations is determined. The order of go is especially important on cross country day, when the first competitors have the best footing, but do not know how the course will ride, while the later competitors will know the tricky obstacles on course, but may have to run their horses on torn up or sloppy footing.
Britain's Ginny Elliot and Germany's Michael Jung are currently the only riders to have won the individual European Champion title three times in succession: Elliot became European Champion in 1985, 1987, and 1989; Jung became European Champion in 2011, 2013 and 2015.[2]
On eight occasions, riders of a single nation have swept the podium, winning all three medals; Great Britain on 7 occasions, most recently in 2021[3] and Germany once in 2011.
| Individual medalists | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
| 1953 |  Laurence Rook on Starlight | Frank Weldon on Kilbarry | Hans Schwarzenbach on Vae Victis | ||
| 1954 | Bertie Hill on Crispin | Frank Weldon on Kilbarry | Laurence Rook on Starlight | ||
| 1955 | Frank Weldon on Kilbarry | John Oram on Radar | Bertie Hill on Countryman | ||
| 1957 | Sheila Willcox on High and Mighty | August Lütke-Westhüs on Franco |  Jonas Lindgren on Eldorado | ||
| 1959 | Hans Schwarzenbach on Burn Trout | Frank Weldon on Samuel Johnson | Derek Allhusen on Laurien | ||
| 1962 | James Templer on M'Lord Conelly | German Gazyumov on Granj | Jane Wykeham-Musgrave on Ryebrooks | ||
| 1965 |  Marian Babirecki on Volt | Lev Baklyshkin on Evlon | Horst Karsten on Condora | ||
| 1967 |  Eddie Boylan on Durlas Eile | Martin Whiteley on The Poacher | Derek Allhusen on Lochinvar | ||
| 1969 | Mary Gordon-Watson on Cornishman | Richard Walker on Pasha | Bernd Messmann on Windspiel | ||
| 1971 | The Princess Anne on Doublet | Debbie West on Baccarat | Stuart Stevens on Classic Chips | ||
| 1973 | Aleksandr Yevdokimov on Jeger | Herbert Blöcker on Albrant | Horst Karsten on Sioux | ||
| 1975 | Luhmühlen | Lucinda Prior-Palmer on Be Fair | The Princess Anne on Goodwill | Pyotr Gornushko on Gusar | |
| 1977 | Lucinda Prior-Palmer on George | Karl Schultz on Madrigal | Horst Karsten on Sioux | ||
| 1979 | Luhmühlen | Nils Haagensen on Monaco | Rachel Bayliss on Gurgle The Geek | Rüdiger Schwarz on Power Game | |
| 1981 | Hansueli Schmutz on Oran | Helmut Rethemeier on Santiago | Brian McSweeney on Inis Mean | ||
| 1983 | Rachel Bayliss on Mystic Minstrel | Lucinda Prior-Palmer on Regal Realm | Christian Persson on Joël | ||
| 1985 | Virginia Holgate on Priceless | Lorna Clarke on Myross | Ian Stark on Oxford Blue | ||
| 1987 | Luhmühlen | Virginia Leng on Night Cap | Ian Stark on Sir Wattie | Claus Erhorn on Justyn Thyme | |
| 1989 | Virginia Leng on Master Craftsman | Jane Thelwall on King's Jester | Lorna Clarke-Sutherland on Fearliath Mor | ||
| 1991 | Ian Stark on Glenburnie | Richard Walker on Jacana | Karen Straker on Get Smart | ||
| 1993 |  Jean-Lou Bigot on Twist La Beige | Kristina Gifford on Song and Dance Man | Eddy Stibbe on Bahlua | ||
| 1995 | Lucy Thompson on Welton Romance | Marie-Christine Duroy on Ut Du Placineau | Mary King on King William | ||
| 1997 | Bettina Hoy on Watermill Stream | William Fox-Pitt on Cosmopolitan II | Kristina Gifford on General Jock | ||
| 1999 | Luhmühlen | Pippa Funnell on Supreme Rock | Linda Algotsson on Stand By Me | Paula Törnqvist on Monaghan | |
| 2001 | Pippa Funnell on Supreme Rock | on Brilliante |  Enrique Sarasola Jr. on Dope Doux | ||
| 2003 | Nicolas Touzaint on Galan de Sauvagere | Linda Algotsson on Stand By Me | Pippa Funnell on Walk On Star | ||
| 2005 | Ingrid Klimke on Sleep Late | ||||
| 2007 | Nicolas Touzaint on Galan de Sauvagere | Mary King on Call Again Cavalier | Bettina Hoy on Ringwood Cockatoo | ||
| 2009 | Kristina Cook on Miners Frolic | Piggy French on Some Day Soon | Michael Jung on Sam | ||
| Luhmühlen | Michael Jung on Sam | Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo | Frank Ostholt on Little Paint | ||
| Michael Jung on Halunke | Ingrid Klimke on Escada | William Fox-Pitt on Chilli Morning | |||
| Michael Jung on Takinou | Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo | Thibaut Vallette on Qing du Briot | |||
| Ingrid Klimke on Hale Bob | Michael Jung on Rocana | Nicola Wilson on Bulana | |||
| Luhmühlen | Ingrid Klimke on Hale Bob | Michael Jung on Chipmunk | Cathal Daniels on Rioghan Rua | ||
| Nicola Wilson on Dublin | Piggy March on Brookfield Innocent | Sarah Bullimore on Corouet | |||
| Ros Canter on Lordships Graffalo | Kitty King on Vendredi Biats | Sandra Auffarth on Viamant du Matz |
| Team medalists | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
| 1953 | Frank Weldon on Kilbarry Reg Hindley on Speculation Bertie Hill on Bambi | not awarded | not awarded | ||
| 1954 | Bertie Hill on Crispin Frank Weldon on Kilbarry Laurence Rook on Starlight Diana Mason on Tramella | Wilhelm Büsing on Trux August Lütke-Westhüs on Hubertus Klaus Wagner on Dachs Max Huck on Fockdra von Kamax | not awarded | ||
| 1955 | Frank Weldon on Kilbarry Bertie Hill on Countryman Laurence Rook on Starlight Diana Mason on Tramella | Anton Bühler on Uranus Hans Bühler on Richard Marc Büchler on Tizian Andrea Zindel on Vae Victis | not awarded | ||
| 1957 | Sheila Willcox on High & Mighty Ted Marsh on Wild Venture Derek Allhusen on Laurien Kit Tatham-Warter on Pampas Cat | August Lütke-Westhüs on Franko II Siegfried Dehning on Fechtlanze Reiner Klimke on Lausbub Dieter Fösken | Jonas Lindgren on Eldorado Evert Petterson on Tom Raid Petrus Kastenman on Illuster K. G. Holm on Air | ||
| 1959 | August Lütke-Westhüs on Franko II Ottokar Pohlmann on Polarfuchs Siegfried Dehning on Fechtlanze Reiner Klimke on Fortunat | Frank Weldon on Samuel Johnson Derek Allhusen on Laurien Jeremy Beale on Fulmer Folly Sheila Waddington on Airs & Graces | Jéhan Le Roy on Garden Pierre Durand Sr. on Guillano Guy Lefrant on Nicias Hugues Landon on Espionne | ||
| 1962 | German Gazyumov on Granj Pavel Deyev on Satrap Lev Baklyshkin on Khirurg Saybattal Mursalimov | Anthony Cameron on Sam Weller Harry Freeman-Jackson on St Finbarr Virginia Freeman-Jackson on Irish Lace Patrick Conolly-Carew on Ballyhoo | Frank Weldon on Young Pretender Michael Bullen on Sea Breeze Susan Fleet on The Gladiator Peter Welch on Mister Wilson | ||
| 1965 | Valentin Gorelkin Saybattal Mursalimov on Dzhigit Aleksandr Yevdokimov on Padarok Lev Baklyshkin on Evlon | Penelope Moreton on Loughlin Virginia Freeman-Jackson on Sam Weller Eddie Boylan on Durlas Eile Anthony Cameron on Lough Druid | Derek Allhusen on Lochinvar Richard Meade on Barberry Christine Sheppard on Fenjirao Reuben Jones on Master Bernard | ||
| 1967 | Martin Whitely on The Poacher Derek Allhusen on Lochinvar Reuben Jones on Foxdor Richard Meade on Barberry | Eddie Boylan on Durlas Eile John Fowler on Dooney Rock Virginia Stanhope on Sam Weller Bill Mullins on March Hawk | Jean-Jacques Guyon on Pitou Daniel Lechevallier on Opera Henri Michel on Ouragan Michel Cochenet on Artaban II | ||
| 1969 | Richard Walker on Pasha Derek Allhusen on Lochinvar Polly Hely-Hutchinson on Count Jasper Reuben Jones on The Poacher | Yuri Solos on Fat Aleksandr Yevdokimov on Fahrad Kamo Zakarian on Fugus Y. Kepp on Hobot | Bernd Messmann on Windspiel Kurt Mergler on Adajio Horst Karsten on Vaibel Otto Ammermann om Alpaca | ||
| 1971 | Debbie West on Baccarat Richard Meade on The Poacher Mary Gordon-Watson on Cornishman Mark Phillips on Great Ovations | Sergey Mukhin on Resfeder Vladimir Soroka on Obzor Aleksandr Yevdokimov on Farkhad Yuri Solos on Rashod | Bill McLernon on Ballangarry Diana Wilson on Broken Promise William Powell-Harris on Smokey VI Ronnie McMahon on San Carlos | ||
| 1973 | Herbert Blöcker on Albrant Kurt Mergler on Vaibel Horst Karsten on Sioux Harry Klugmann on El Paso | Aleksandr Yevdokimov on Resfeder Vladimir Soroka on Obzor Yuri Salnikov on Bagazh Valentin Gorelkin on Rock | Richard Meade on Wayfarer II Lucinda Prior-Palmer on Be Fair Janet Hodgson on Larkspur Debbie West on Baccarat | ||
| 1975 | Luhmühlen | Pyotr Gornushko on Gusar Viktor Kalinin on Araks Vladimir Lanyugin on Reflex Vladimir Tishkin on Flot | Lucinda Prior-Palmer on Be Fair The Princess Anne on Goodwill Sue Hatherly on Harley Janet Hodgson on Larkspur | Kurt Mergler on Vaibel Herbert Blöcker on Albrant Harry Klugmann on Veberod Horst Karsten on Sioux | |
| 1977 | Lucinda Prior-Palmer on George Jane Holderness-Roddam on Warrior Christopher Collins on Smokey VI Clarissa Strachan on Merry Sovereign | Karl Schultz on Madrigal Horst Karsten on Sioux Hanna Huppelsberg-Zwöck on Akzent Harry Klugmann on El Paso | John Watson on Cambridge Blue Eric Horgan on Pontoon Patsy Maher on Ballagarry Norman van de Vater on Blue Tom Tit | ||
| 1979 | Luhmühlen | John Watson on Cambridge Blue David Foster on Inis Mean Alan Lillingston on Seven Up Helen Cantillon on Wing Forward | Clarissa Strachan on Warrior Lucinda Prior-Palmer on Killaire Sue Hatherly on Monacle II Christopher Collins on Gamble | Thierry Touzaint on Griboille C Armand Bigot on Gamin du Bois Thierry Lacour on Sertorius Edoaurd Decharme on Frisson A | |
| 1981 | Lizzie Purbrick on Peter the Great Sue Benson on Gemma Jay Richard Meade on Kilcashel Virginia Holgate on Priceless | Josef Burger on Beaujour de Mars Josef Räber on Benno II Hansueli Schmutz on Oran Ernst Baumann on Baron | Miroslaw Slusarczyk on Ekran Krzysztof Rafalak on Djak Jan Lipczynski on Elektron Miroslaw Szlapka on Erywan | ||
| 1983 | Christian Persson on Joel Göran Breisner on Ultimus xx Sven Ingvarsson on Doledo Jeanette Ullsten on Noir | Lucinda Prior-Palmer on Regal Realm Virginia Holgate on Night Cap Lorna Clarke on Danville Diana Clapham on Windjammer | Pascal Morvillers on Gulliver B Thierry Lacour on Hymen de la Cour Marie-Christine Duroy on Harley Patrick Marquebielle on Flamenco III | ||
| 1985 | Virginia Holgate on Priceless Lorna Clarke on Myross Ian Stark on Oxford Blue Lucinda Green on Regal Realm | Jean Teulere on Godelureau Vincent Berthet on Kopino Marie-Christine Duroy on Harley Pascal Morvillers on Gulliver B | Christoph Wagner on Phillip Jürgen Blum on Frosty Bay Ralf Ehrenbrink on Bettina Claus Erhorn on Fair Lady | ||
| 1987 | Luhmühlen | Virginia Leng on Night Cap Ian Stark on Sir Wattie Rachel Hunt on Aloaf Lucinda Green on Shannagh | Wolfgang Mengers on Half Moon Bay Ralf Ehrenbrink on Uncle Toss Claus Erhorn on Justyn Thyme Jürgen Blum on Frosty Bay | Thierry Lacour on Hymen de la Cour Didier Seguret on Jovial E Vincent Berthet on Jet Crub Pascal Morvillers on Jacquet | |
| 1989 | Rodney Powell on The Irishman II Ian Stark on Glenburnie Virginia Leng on Master Craftsman Lorna Clarke-Sutherland on Fearliath Mor | Eddy Stibbe on Bristols Autumn Fantasy Fiona van Tuyll on Just a Gamble Mandy Stibbe-Jeakins on Bristols Autumn Bronze | Melanie Duff on Rathlin Joe Olivia Holohan on Rusticus Eric Horgan on Homer Joe McGowan on Private Deal | ||
| 1991 | Ian Stark on Glenburnie Richard Walker on Jacana Karen Straker on Get Smart Mary Thomson on King William | Sonya Duke on Bright Imp Olivia Holohan on Buket Jeremy Spring on Holy Smoke Fiona Wentges on Oliver | Jean-Jacques Boisson on Oscar de la Loge Didier Mayoux on Maryland II Jean Teulere on Orvet de Bellaing Didier Seguret on Newlot | ||
| 1993 | Lars Christensson on One Way Fredrik Bergendorff on Michaelmas Day Erik Duvander on Right On Time Anna Hermann on Mr Punch | Jean Teulere on Orvet de Bellai Michel Bouquet on Newport Didier Seguret on Newlot Jean-Lou Bigot on Twist la Beige | Susan Shortt on Menana Sonya Rowe on Bright Imp Sally Corscadden on Cageodore Eric Smiley on Enterprise | ||
| 1995 | Charlotte Bathe on The Cool Customer Kristina Gifford on Midnight Blue William Fox-Pitt on Cosmopolitan Mary King on King William | Gilles Pons on Ramdame Rodolphe Scherer on Urane de Pins Didier Willefert on Seducteur Biolay Jean-Lou Bigot on Twist la Beige | Mark Barry on Collongues Virginia McGrath on Yellow Earl Eric Smiley on Enterprise Lucy Thompson on Welton Romance | ||
| 1997 | Christopher Bartle on Word Perfect II Ian Stark on Arakai Mary King on Rusty William Fox-Pitt on King William | Sivert Jonsson on Jumping Jet Pack Magnus Österlund on Master Mind Paula Törnqvist on Monaghan Anna Hermann on Home Run II | Jean Teulere on Rodosto Frédéric de Romblay on Rosendael Marie-Christine Duroy on Summer Song Jean-Lou Bigot on Twist la Beige | ||
| 1999 | Luhmühlen | Kristina Gifford on The Gangster II Jeanette Brakewell on Over To You Ian Stark on Jaybee Pippa Funnell on Supreme Rock | Peter Thomsen on Warren Gorse Herbert Blöcker on Chicol Nele Hagener on Little McMuffin Bodo Battenberg on Sam the Man | Virginie Caulier on Kiona Kurt Heyndrickx on Archimedes Carl Bouckaert on Welton Molecule Constantin Van Rijckevorsel on Otis | |
| 2001 | Leslie Law on Shear H2O Jeanette Brakewell on Over To You William Fox-Pitt on Stunning Pippa Funnell on Supreme Rock | Rodolphe Scherer on Quack Denis Mesples on Vanpire Frédéric de Romblay on Baba Au Rhum Didier Courrèges on Debat D'Estruval | Fabio Fani Ciotti on Down Town Brown Andrea Verdina on Donnizetti Marco Biasia on Ecu Fabio Magni on Cool'n | ||
| 2003 | Jeanette Brakewell on Over To You William Fox-Pitt on Moon Man Leslie Law on Shear l'Eau Pippa Funnell on Walk On Star | Jean-Luc Force on Crocus Jacob Jean Teulere on Hobby du Mée Arnaud Boiteau on Expo du Moulin Nicolas Touzaint on Galan de Sauvagère | Karin Donckers on Gormley Carl Bouckaert on Welton Molecule Dolf Desmedt on Bold Action Constantin Van Rijckevorsel on Withcote Nellie | ||
| 2005 | Zara Phillips on Toytown William Fox-Pitt on Tamarillo Jeanette Brakewell on Over To You Leslie Law on Shear l'Eau | Arnaud Boiteau on Expo du Moulin Didier Willefert on Escape Lane Mili Gilles Viricel on Blakring Mili Nicolas Touzaint on Hidalgo de l'Ile | Frank Ostholt on Air Jordan Hinrich Romeike on Marius Anna Warnecke on Twinkle Bee Bettina Hoy on Ringwood Cockatoo | ||
| 2007 | Oliver Townend on Flint Curtis Daisy Dick on Spring Along Zara Phillips on Toytown Mary King on Call Again Cavalier | Arnaud Boiteau on Expo du Moulin Didier Dhennin on Ismene du Temple Eric Vigeanel on Coronado Prior Nicolas Touzaint on Galan de Sauvagère | Susanna Bordone on Ava Fabio Magni on Southern King V Roberto Rotatori on Irham de Vaiges Vittoria Panizzon on Rock Model | ||
| 2009 | Kristina Cook on Miners Frolic William Fox-Pitt on Idalgo du Donjon Nicola Wilson on Opposition Buzz Oliver Townend on Flint Curtis | Roberto Rotatori on Irham de Vaiges Juan Carlos Garcia on Iman du Golfe Stefano Brecciaroli on Oroton Susanna Bordone on Blue Moss | Karin Donckers on Gazelle de la Brasserie Joris Vanspringel on Bold Action Virginie Caulier on Kilo Constantin Van Rijckevorsel on Our Vintage | ||
| Luhmühlen | Michael Jung on Sam Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo Ingrid Klimke on Butts Abraxxas Andreas Dibowski on Fantasia | Donatien Schauly on Ocarina du Chanois Nicolas Touzaint on Quirinal de la Bastide Stanislas de Zuchowicz on Quirinal de la Bastide Pascal Leroy on Minos de Petra | William Fox-Pitt on Cool Mountain Piggy French on Jakata Nicola Wilson on Opposition Buzz Mary King on Imperial Cavalier | ||
Michael Jung on Halunke Ingrid Klimke on Escada Dirk Schrade on Hop and Skip Andreas Dibowski on Butts Avedon | Niklas Lindbäck on Mister Pooh Ludwig Svennerstål on Shamwari Frida Andersen on Herta Sara Algotsson-Ostholt on Reality | Nicolas Touzaint on Lesbos Donatien Schauly on Séculaire Karim Laghouag on Punch de l'Esques Astier Nicolas on Piaf de b'Neville | |||
Michael Jung on Takinou Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo Ingrid Klimke on Hale Bob Dirk Schrade on Hop and Skip | Kitty King on Persimmon Pippa Funnell on Sandman Nicola Wilson on One Two Many William Fox-Pitt on Bay My Hero | Thibaut Vallette on Qing du Briot Mathieu Lemoine on Bart L Thomas Carlile on Sirocco du Gers Karim Laghouag on Entebbe | |||
Kristina Cook on Billy the Red Nicola Wilson on Bulana Rosalind Canter on Allstar B Oliver Townend on Cooley SRS | Sara Algotsson-Ostholt on Reality Louise Svensson Jahde on Utah Sun Niklas Lindbäck on Focus Filiocus Ludvig Svennerstål on Paramount Importance | Pietro Roman on Barraduff Pietro Sandei on Rubis de Prere Vittoria Panizzon on Chequers Play the Game Arianna Schivo on Quefira de l'Ormeau | |||
| Luhmühlen | Ingrid Klimke on Hale Bob Michael Jung on Chipmunk Andreas Dibowski on Corrida Kai Rüder on Colani Sunrise | Oliver Townend on Cooley Master Class Piggy French on Quarrycrest Echo Pippa Funnell on Majas Hope Kristina Cook on Billy the Red | Ludvig Svennerstål on El Kazir Louise Romeike on Waikiki Malin Josefsson on Golden Midnight Niklas Lindbäck on Focus Filiocus | ||
Nicola Wilson on Dublin Piggy March on Brookfield Innocent Kitty King on Vendredi Biats Rosalind Canter on Allstar B | Michael Jung on Wild Wave Ingrid Klimke on Hale Bob Anna Siemer on Avondale Andreas Dibowski on Corrida | Sara Algotsson Ostholt on Chicuelo Malin Josefsson on Golden Midnight Malin Petersen on Charly Brown Christoffer Forsberg on Hippo's Sapporo | |||
Laura Collett on London52 Yasmin Ingham on Banzai Du Loir Kitty King on Vendredi Biats Rosalind Canter on Lordships Gaffalo | Michael Jung on Fischerchipmunk Frh Sandra Auffarth on Viamant Du Matz Christoph Wahler on Carjatan S Malin Hansen-Hotopp on Carlitos Quidditch K | Nicolas Touzaint on Absolut Gold Hdc Stephane Landois on Ride For Thais Chaman Gaspard Maksud on Zaragoza Karim Florent Laghouag on Triton Fontaine |