THE IRISH under-14 Children on Horses team scooped their first European Championship gold medal after a thrilling jump-off with Germany today (Saturday) at Comporta in Portugal.
With 16 nations competing over two days, Ireland last night were equal third with France, but this afternoon produced four consecutive clear rounds to tie with Germany on four faults, forcing a jump-off for the gold medal, which Ireland won with a fence in hand.
Cormac Hanley from Mayo, riding the Irish-bred 'Pageant Prince' went clear through all three rounds, while Waterford's Thomas Harty and another Irish-bred horse, 'Young Limerick', were clear in the first round, the discard score in the second, but recovered to produce four faults in the jump-off.
Tim McDonagh from Galway, riding 'Cord'Alou', produced a first round eight-faulter, but went clear in the second round and had four faults in the jump-off for the gold medal. Fermanagh's Kerry Taggart on yet another Irish-bred horse, 'Miss Contradiction', started with a single mistake in the first round but then went clear all the way to help the Irish team secure the European championship on a four fault total.
Germany collected eight faults in the jump-off to take the silver medal, while Britain, on six faults after two rounds, settled for bronze.
Ireland's Chef d'Equipe at the European Championships was Commandant John Ledingham, while the reserve rider was Tyrone's Hannah Smyth.
SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS COMPORTA PORTUGAL JULY 4-10 2011
European Championship Final
Children On Horses
International Jumping Competition
Table A In Two Rounds
FEI Art 22.3+23.2+24
1m20
Saturday, July 9, 2011
1) Ireland 4 faults (after Jump Off)
Cormac Hanley; Pageant Prince (ISH Primo Pageant x Lady In Clover) 0/0/0 Thomas Harty; Young Limerick (ISH Ballinvella Lad x Limerick) 0/16/4 Tim MacDonagh; Cord'Alou 8/0/4 Kerry Taggart; Miss Contradiction (ISH) 4/0/0
2) Germany 8 faults (after Jump Off)
3) Great Britain 12 faults
=4) Poland 8 faults
=4) France 8 faults
=6) Italy 12 faults
=6) Belgium 12 faults
=8) Switzerland 16 faults
=8) Spain 16 faults
=10) Russia 20 faults
=10) Greece 20 faults