GAIN Irish Junior and Young Rider teams in touch with medal places after Dressage at European Eventing Championships in Millstreet

Excitement is building at the FEI European Eventing Championships in Millstreet, Co Cork, after the GAIN Irish Junior (U18) and Young Rider (U21) teams produced solid Dressage performances to stay well in touch with medal places heading into the weekends Cross Country and Show Jumping.

The GAIN Irish Young Rider team lie in fifth place of 10 teams, boosted by a superb Dressage test by their final rider Susie Berry with The Irish Sport Horse Morswood. Berry, from Co Down, finished with a hugely impressive score of 38.40 penalties and she is just a fraction off the medal places in fourth overall.
The Irish Young Rider team also includes Nessa Briody (Tom Boy), Cathal Daniels (Sammy Davis Junior (ISH) and Tessa Harley with Catsky (ISH) (TIH). They are on a combined score of 136.20 in fifth place overall. France lead on 121.0 with Germany second (125.10) and Britain third on 125.30.

Irish Young Rider team manager Sally Corscadden said:
“We knew Susie [Berry] could do a good test and she did a super job, really professional and she deserved the mark she got. It was a big boost for the team as it moves us up to fifth. We have won medals from this position before after Dressage and we are well in contention with the medal places. I expect the Cross Country time to be tight and I think there will be quite a few changes on the leader board. They have built a super Cross Country course here in Millstreet with great use of the hills and four water fences. The last third of the course will ask some tough questions and fitness will come into play. We are looking forward to seeing what happens over the weekend.”

Meanwhile the GAIN Irish Junior (U18) Eventing team lie in sixth place of 12 teams at the end of their Dressage phase and well in touch with the medal places. Correna Bowe (LCC Cooley (ISH), Anna Kelly (Something Special VI), Alex Power (Lakantus) and Jim Tyrrell (Rock Gift (ISH), are on a combined score of 140.80, less than 10 penalties behind the Bronze medal position. Germany lead on 95.20 with Britain second on 102.70 and France third on a score of 131.30.
Kildare’s Alex Power with Lakantus are the best placed Irish Junior combination individually, holding 10th place on a score of 41.0. Britain’s Isabelle Upton leads on 23.90 penalties.

The Cross Country phase of both the Young Rider and Junior European Championship competition takes place in Millstreet on Saturday followed by Show Jumping on Sunday after which the medals will be decided.