Last weekend The European Arabian Horse Sport Championships took place at Stadl Paura near Linz, Austria.Poland was represented by 2006 European Champion showjumping – Niniwa (Etogram – Niwa), bred and owned by Katarzyna Ostrowska (St. Roch Arabians), with Agnieszka Olszewska as the rider – and two Janów Podlaski State Stud’ chief
sires: Metropolis NA (Consensus US – NDL Martinique US, bred by Mike Nichols), ridden by Michał Gryglas and Esculap (Primo – Esparceta), bred by Janów Podlaski, ridden by Justyna Żebrowska.
On Friday evening Metropolis NA was placed 8. in Classic Pleasure, qualified to the Saturday’s finals. Also two showjumping concourses took place that day – both won, in beautiful style, by Niniwa and Agnieszka Olszewska. There was also Mounted Native Costume competition held, and again Polish win! – By Metropolis NA with Michał Gryglas.
Esculap with Justyna Żebrowska was placed third in this class. Both riders – Gryglas and Żebrowska, are students of Janów Podlaski Technical School of Horse Breeding, trained at Janów Podlaski stud by their trainer – Artur Bieńkowski.
On Saturday morning the results of Type & Conformation competition were announced. First as well as second place were taken by Janów Podlaski’ stallions (Metropolis NA – first, Esculap – second). And then Classic Pleasure eliminations. Both stallions mentioned took place with Metropolis chosen for the group of best top ten for Sunday’s finals. Saturday
evening was a great time of Niniwa taking part in two concourses. First one was less successful as she took 3rd place but the second was more important: Show Jumping EM – Mono Final that was won by Polish mare after tie with four other competitors (all of them had 4 penalty points). Niniwa’s start was the last one in tie and when two first competitors made one fault each, Polish team was nearly sure about the chances for Niniwa’s win. But the third competitor – from Austria, last before Niniwa’s start, had clear round and got the aplause for fabulous and dynamic ride! There was a complete silence when Niniwa and Agnieszka Ostrowska appeared in the ring… They had to make a clear round as well – in the extreme tempo! They started with slow canter before the first bar. But after that they stepped out with dynamic tempo and short forecourts before another bars that they were flying above.
When the couple reached the last bar it was sure that Niniwa, nicknamed „Niunia”, began the European Champion again. When the music played louder the spectators stood up and the Polish team went out to congratulate the horse, rider and the owner.
Poles gave another proof that they breed Arabian horses to be beautiful and brave – said Roy Rich, the official ME trainer. But there was another reason for Poles to be proud that day of – Metropolis NA, that has been trained for Classic Pleasure while being at his home stud in Mike Nichols Arabians, was placed 4th in the competition at Stadl Paura.
