Riding | The incredible victory brought constant publicity around Jone Illi – started as “media dust”

“Hard will be. But I wouldn’t be able to go to value competitions if I didn’t go to win,” says Jone Illi.

A year ago, the then 14-year-old steeplechase rider did something that no one believed. Although he had a fairy-tale season behind him, the best junior riders of the European horse breeds were up against him in the European championships.

Jone Illi rode his mare Eolita L for four days in 38 degree heat. The final result was Junior European Championship gold. The medal was Finland’s first competition gold in show jumping in 34 years. This year he will defend his medal.

“I’ve put pressure on myself, but I don’t stress too much about competitions.”

EC gold launched a year of rotation. Jone Illi signed autographs at competitions, posed with fans in group photos and acted as a front image of horse events.

The Equestrian Association awarded the EC gold as the year’s most exciting horse moment, and the public voted Illi as rider of the year. At the Helsinki International Horse Show in October, he was taken from morning to night.

“There were a lot of meetings, but you can’t let that affect the performance. Media dust and doing one’s own work must be separated from each other.”

With the EC gold, the mainstream media became interested in the young rider. He has not received special media guidance, but his mother Sanna Illi reads the stories beforehand together with Jone.

“I have learned how to give these interviews. I already know what to say and what not to say,” Illi says and laughs.

He is happy that his own success has improved the visibility of riding.

“It’s nice that people other than riders have heard my name somewhere. Horse riding is a small sport in Finland, so it is nice that I have been able to promote it as well.”

Attention has brought new sponsors, but in the background the support groups and coaches have remained the same. The most important are your family and your coach Kari Nevala. The system has remained the same since 2016.

“Why would I change anything, since everything has worked so well until now?”

Jone Illi hasn’t encountered anything negative, barking or bullying with the medal and the publicity. The attitude of friends at school or outside the horse world has not changed either.

“It’s nice that everything has stayed the same there.”

Week before the EC trip, Jone Illi prepared himself for the value competitions by jumping with the gelding Celtas Quillian in the international competitions in Aachen. The legendary race is ridden on a giant grass field in front of up to 40,000 people.

“I have never been in similar competitions, with such tough names. Everyone was older than me,” says Illi.

Celtas Quillian was also difficult during the competition trip. The horse was very fast on the big grass field.

“If the horse foals, there is no other option but to ride into the barrier. We have focused on correcting the same things in training.”

Despite the riding challenges and the big arena, the competitive nerves held. Illi finished sixth in tough company on Friday and third on Saturday.

“It was a good preparation for the EC competitions. When I ride, I don’t focus on the arena but only on the performance. The goal is pure performance, that I don’t take any booms.”

The will to win is strong, but it doesn’t come at the expense of riding.

“Even though I want to win, I always want to ride nicely.”

for the EC competitions Illi will participate with last year’s golden mare Eolita L. Before the EC competitions, “Elsa” has been in Holland with light riding.

“It is in good condition and doing well. Elsa has been well taken care of.”

The EC competitions are a tough competition. Along with the final, the four-day competitions are ridden in intense heat. Elsa is cooled down with buckets of water and wet towels. Illi bring fans to the horse’s stall. The rider also gets sweaty.

“Judges sometimes give permission to ride without a jacket in a light race shirt, that makes it easier. You have to remember to drink enough yourself.”

On the other hand, there is no pressure, because last year there was a need to prove that he was in the right place. On the other hand, eyes are directed at Illi in a different way now.

“I am known even abroad. But I never get nervous, so I can’t stress about other people’s expectations.”

Note: Youth, Junior and children’s steeplechase EC competitions in Italy 10.–16.7.

Read more: Jone Illi, 14, was supposed to become a top soccer player but didn’t – he became a smiling prodigy of a completely different sport: “I don’t see anything special in myself”

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Read more: Jone Illi took the historic championship and won the European show jumping junior gold: “I’m still completely speechless”