IRELAND FACES TOUGH BATTLE ON CROSS COUNTRY DAY AT WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES

  • 29 August 2014, 20:32

IRELAND’S Eventing team face a challenging day at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy tomorrow (Saturday) when they will hope to pull themselves up from overnight 12th place following two days of dressage competition.

Facing into the championship cross-country phase, Ireland is now 43.6 penalty points adrift of leaders Germany, but is still ahead of Brazil, Italy, Sweden and Poland in the 16 nation contest.

The best dressage performance amongst the Irish came from Meath-based Sarah Ennis with Horseware Stellor Rebound who finished on 48.5 penalties. Mullingar’s Joseph Murphy was next best of the four-strong team, with 52.2 on Electric Cruise.
Overnight individual leader in the Eventing competition is Germany’s Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo on 35.2 penalties, with Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning just two points behind.

The Irish team is made up of Ennis and Murphy alongside Aoife Clark with Fenya’s Elegance and Sam Watson on Horseware Bushman. Ireland has also two individual riders in the field – Camilla Speirs with Portersize Just a Jiff and Clare Abbott on Euro Prince. All of the Irish squad ride Irish Sport Horses.

Eventing medals will be decided after Sunday’s show jumping phase.

In Para Dressage at Normandy today, Ireland’s Helen Kearney had a good day in the Freestyle competition, finishing fifth on 72.050 per cent with the Irish Sport Horse Mister Cool.
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