High Stakes, High Standards: How Day 2 Played out in La Coruna
The Brits lead, but the Germans have shown they mean serious business. It's all left to play for in Friday's Team Final.
A shock withdrawal, tight team battles, and standout performances. Day 2 at the 2025 European Championships delivered early twists, and Day 3 promises even more intrigue as the team competition intensifies.
A Strong Start with an Unexpected Twist
The 2025 Jumping European Championships in A Coruña wasted no time delivering headlines. Day 1 concluded with Ireland’s Daniel Coyle and Legacy at the top of the individual leaderboard, only for Coyle to withdraw before Day 2 began. The shock exit of the Irish rider immediately reshaped the individual picture and handed the lead to Germany’s Richard Vogel and his brilliant partner, United Touch S, sitting on an almost perfect 0.01 penalties.
Course Challenges Rise on Day 2
While Day 1’s speed competition set the tone, Day 2 has already revealed a tougher test. Among the first 17 individual riders, early statistics showed a clear rate of 47%, remarkable given that at previous European Championships Round 2 typically clears at around 22%. Across 86 combinations, the class clear rate eventually settled at 40%. This course, and this field, have so far delivered riding of the highest quality.
Top Teams Rise to the Occasion
In team competition, Great Britain remains firmly in control, holding the smallest post-Day 2 score (3.96 penalties) recorded at a European Championship in the past two decades. Their consistency has been remarkable, with three clear rounds today ensuring they stayed in pole position.
Close behind them, Germany delivered an impeccable performance, with all four riders jumping clear. Their win probability surged to 41% after the first two rounds, reflecting their clinical execution under pressure.
Belgium also impressed, holding onto their Day 1 score with a series of superb clears, ensuring they remain right in the hunt at 4.61 penalties.
At the other end of the standings, several teams were fighting for a qualification spot for Friday’s Team Final, including Denmark, Norway, Austria and defending champions, Sweden. Sweden eventually managed to do just enough to make it into the Team Final, currently lying in 10th place on a score of 23.93 penalties, making it unlikely they will successfully defend their European title today.
The Individual Battle Tightens
Coyle’s withdrawal left Richard Vogel & United Touch S (0.01 penalties) in the individual lead, but the standings remain tightly packed. Donald Whitaker and Millfield Colette (0.67 penalties) sit in silver medal position, with France’s Julien Epaillard and Donatello d’Auge (0.89 penalties) in bronze position after Day 2.
History suggests that holding the Day 2 lead can be a precarious place. Across the last seven European Championships, only one rider leading after Day 2 went on to secure individual gold (Peder Fredricson with H&M All In in 2017)
A striking statistic underscores how competitive this championship remains: 25 riders are within 4 penalties of the lead as we head into Day 3, and 22 combinations have jumped clear rounds over the first two days. There is a lot of jumping left to be done and the margins are tight.
Historic Records in Play
Richard Vogel’s lead is a landmark in itself. He is the first German rider to head the European Championship leaderboard after Day 2 since Carsten-Otto Nagel in 2011.
In the team competition, Great Britain’s current position is historic too: this is the first time in 18 years that the Day 1 leader has retained their lead after Day 2. The last team to achieve this was Germany in 2007, though they ultimately lost out to the Netherlands on the final day.
Looking Ahead to the Team Final
With no team managing to stay faultless across Day 2 and Day 3 at the last seven European Championships, tomorrow’s final is far from decided. Great Britain, Germany, and Belgium hold commanding positions, but Ireland, France, and Switzerland remain in striking distance.
In the individual contest, riders like Christian Kukuk (GER), Steve Guerdat (SUI), and Gilles Thomas (BEL) are lurking near the top and will fancy their chances. Guerdat, the defending European Champion, sits fifth with Albführen’s Iashin Sitte, aiming to become only the third rider in history to win back-to-back European individual title, and the first to do so on different horses.
The story of the 2025 European Championships is already rich with drama and data. With Great Britain setting the pace and Germany applying relentless pressure, Friday’s team final promises a thrilling climax. In the individual race, history is against the leader, but anything can happen at Casas Novas.