TIPPERARY rider David Hannigan this afternoon (Sunday) helped Ireland take the Team Silver medal when he claimed Individual Bronze in the Young Rider (Under 21) European Eventing Championships, after jumping clear in the show jumping phase at Blair Castle in Scotland on his Irish-bred gelding 'Red Baron'.

Hannigan, who is 18 and from Fethard, picked up 2.8 time penalties on Saturday's cross country course and today's zero penalty score left him on a total of 49.5, finishing just 2.4 points off Gold, which was taken by Germany's Freya Fullgraebe and 'Oje Oje'. The individual Silver Medal went to Britain's Willa Newtown and 'Neelix' on a total score of 48.4

Older brother Peter Hannigan, 21, took fifth place overall with the Cruising gelding 'First Mate', while their fellow team members Melanie Young with 'Riverstown Express' and Alex Donohoe on 'Ardfry Baringa' finished in 18th and 36th place, respectively, with the aggregate team score good enough to claim the European Team Silver medal, with Gold going to Britain and Germany taking the Bronze.

In the individual European rankings, Irish rider Alex Houston and the Irish-bred mare 'Missey Elliot' improved by three places after show jumping to finish in ninth overall, while Shane Power and another Irish-bred, 'TLB Interactive' went clear today to complete the championships in 11th place.

Another Hannigan family member, 17 year-old Jane, was best of the Irish when she finished seventh in the senior one-star competition at Blair Castle this weekend on 'Ballygriffin Skyhigh'.

After the championships, Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh said that the Irish riders had put in a fantastic overall performance.

"I want to congratulate the riders and their families, as well as all the coaches and support staff. They have done their country proud," he said.
 

EUROPEAN YOUNG RIDER EVENTING SQUAD: Riders, from left to right, David Hannigan, from Fethard, Co. Tipperary, Alex Houston, from Portrush, Co. Antrim, Shane Power, from Clane, Co. Kildare, Melanie Young, from Maynooth Co. Kildare, Peter Hannigan from Fethard, Co. Tipperary, and Alex Donohoe, from Gorey, Co. Wexford.