Ireland’s Susie Berry climbs to Silver Medal position as GAIN Irish Juniors and Young Riders both move within one place of medals at European Eventing Championships in Millstreet

A thrilling day of Cross Country action at the 2017 FEI European Eventing Championships for Young Riders (U21) & Juniors (U18) in Millstreet, Co Cork, has seen both Irish teams move to within touching distance of a medal, while Co Down’s Susie Berry now lies in Silver Medal position heading into the final day.

Susie Berry and her Irish Sport Horse Morswood were in fourth place after Friday’s Dressage and they moved up two places to second after a clear Cross Country jumping round where they added just 2.8 time penalties. Germany’s Hanna Knuppel is in Gold medal position on 36.00, while Britain’s Alex Kenny lurks just 0.10 penalties behind Berry in third. Galway’s Cathal Daniels is next best of the Irish in ninth with Sammy Davis Junior (ISH) and is less than one fence off the medal places.

The GAIN Irish Young Rider team, which also includes Nessa Briody with Tom Boy, have moved up to fourth place on a score of 167.70. This was despite losing team member Tessa Harley, who had to withdraw when her horse Catsky (ISH) (TIH) suffered an injury when warming up. The German Young Rider team are in pole position on a score of 125.70, with Netherlands second (127.90) and Britain third (142.30).

GAIN Irish Young Rider Team Manager Sally Corscadden said:

“Susie was brilliant. Her horse got a bit excited at the start and he whipped around and that cost her about 10 seconds. But she and all our riders did a great job. It was a tough course, tougher than I had thought. There was a lot of water and it played it’s part. There were quite a few eliminations spread out over the course. All of the teams are now down to three riders each, so trot up in the morning is going to be very important and every fence tomorrow is going to count.”

The GAIN Irish Junior Eventing team have also moved to within one place of the medal positions, after they produced a flawless performance in today’s Cross Country.

All four members of the Debbie Byrne managed team jumped clear inside the time. The Irish quartet of Correna Bowe (LCC Cooley (ISH), Anna Kelly (Something Special VI), Alex Power (Lakantus) and Jim Tyrrell (Rock Gift (ISH), stay on a combined score of 140.80. They have closed to within just under 5 penalties of France in Bronze medal position. Germany hold the lead on 95.20, with Britain second on 102.70.

Alex Power remains the highest placed Irish Junior rider on the individual standings, moving up one place to ninth (41.00). Britain’s Isabelle Upton remains in the Gold medal position, staying on her recording breaking Dressage score of 23.90

Irish Junior Eventing Team Manager Debbie Byrne said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled with the performances today. Some really good individual performances and with the team all clear inside the time, it’s all to play for tomorrow.”

The 2017 FEI European Eventing Championships for Young Riders and Juniors will conclude tomorrow (Sunday) in Millstreet, with what promises to be a tense final phase of Show Jumping action.