TALENTED young Thornaby rider Millie Allen picked up individual and team bronze medals as part of the Great Britain junior team which competed in the European Championships in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, last weekend.
One of the youngest teams taking part in a 21-nation competition, Britain were forced into a third round jump-off against Ireland to decide the silver and bronze medals. Germany took the gold after being just one fence ahead of both GB and Ireland, who finished on 12 penalties after the second round.
Anchor rider Millie, 17, jumped one of three clear rounds for the team in the first round, on her father Peter’s 10-year-old bay stallion Balou Star.
In the second round, Millie and two of her team-mates incurred four penalties to finish on a total of 12, level with Ireland.
In a tense jump-off, Ireland were quickly celebrating with a clear from each of their first three riders. GB's Faye Adams returned a brilliant clear, but a fence down by second and third riders Harry Charles and Robert Murphy saw the team relegated into the bronze position, with Millie not asked to jump.
Millie went on to win an individual bronze medal on Balou Star, the 10th medal she has won for GB at a youth European Championships.
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