McCarthy leads Portuguese Event after cross country

IRISH Eventing rider Padraig McCarthy has moved into the lead at the two-star international event at Barroca D’alva in Portugal, after a stunning cross country performance with the gelding, Mr Chunky.

McCarthy had been in fifth place after the opening dressage phase where he scored 43.1 but moved up to top the leaderboard after a brilliant cross country round with the 11-year-old, where they added just 0.4 time faults and no jumping penalties.

Tipperary-born McCarthy holds a one and a half point advantage over his nearest rivals going into Sunday’s final show jumping phase, while he also sits in eighth place with his second horse Bernardette Utopia.