Brett Gardner (photographeD), a member of Hartpury’s Elite 
Academy Show Jumping Squad, finally received his belated Junior European Bronze Medal from British Young Rider Team Trainer and Chef d’Equipe, Corinne Bracken at Hartpury’s International Arena last week.
Brett, riding Horia Du Neretz a 12 year-old mare, and his fellow team members Dan Neilson, Phillipa Dobby and Matt Sampson were awarded their Team Bronze Medals following news that a higher placed nation had been disqualified from the Junior European Championship held in 2007. The Great Britain team
had originally finished fourth just one fault behind the third placed French team who, after a positive medication test on one of their horses, were stripped of their medals. Dan, Phillipa and Matt were awarded their Team Bronze Medals at Olympia in December 2009.
Speaking after receiving his Junior European Championship Team Bronze Medal, Brett said:
”It’s taken a little while to come about but this medal marks such a high point and is easily one of the biggest things in my riding career to date. To miss out on a medal by just one fault was tough and while as a team we would have preferred to have been awarded our Team Bronze at the Championships, to receive it now is still an amazing feeling.”
Corinne Bracken, who was Team Coach at the time of the Championships, awarded Brett with his medal and commented: “To see Brett and the whole team miss out on a medal by one fault at the European Championships in 2007 was just heart-breaking. However, since then to see Brett succeeding at Hartpury not only in his riding but also academically, gives me great pleasure and even more so now that I am able to present him with a much-belated medal that he so richly deserves.”
Hartpury Equine Academy Director Nick Burton and Director of Equitation, Jeremy Michaels were also at the medal presentation and remarked: “We’re absolutely delighted for Brett and for Corinne that their combined efforts have resulted in this fantastic medal. It’s great for Brett and for Hartpury".
