Irish Team wins second Bronze medal at European Pony Championships

WITH a bronze medal already in the bag after the European Pony Show Jumping Championships on Friday, Ireland’s Gain/Glanbia Eventing team added another this morning (Sunday) after the final phase of the three-day event at Arezzo in Italy.

Lying fourth after dressage and cross country, two superb clear rounds in show jumping today from Lucy Latta and Nono and Shannon Nelson with Millridge Buachaill Bui ensured a European bronze medal place for the Irish quartet on 150.90 penalties.

Donnacha O’Brian with Ice Cool Bailey had an uncharacteristic two poles down in show jumping, while Nessa Briody and Rathnaleen Dark Secret also collected eight faults in the jumping phase.

Variations in performance amongst the top four teams saw France drop from overnight first place to second with 144 penalties, allowing Britain to take Gold on a score of 142.20, while Italy lost their second place after dressage and cross country, dropping to fourth overall on 153.70 penalties.

Individual Irish squad member Holly Wray also enjoyed a clear round in jumping this morning with Holiday Chase, finishing on 54 penalties, while Patrick Dennehy and Rose Down also returned a zero score to finish on 58 penalties.

Susan Shortt was Horse Sport Ireland’s Chef d’Equipe to the Irish Pony Eventing squad. Show jumping coach to the Eventers was Tom Slattery, while Sue Smallman was the dressage coach.

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Pat Wall said this morning: “I’d like to congratulate the outstanding young athletes on both our squads for their performances, and thank their families and coaches. These riders have shown remarkable ability and I look forward to them coming onto the senior teams in due course. Hopefully we can produce the horsepower to enable this to happen.”

The European Pony Show Jumping Championships on Friday saw Germany take Gold on four faults, with Great Britain in Silver Medal position on eight faults. Ireland’s final tally was 12 faults.

Ireland’s show jumping pony team jumped under the direction of Horse Sport Ireland’s Pony Show Jumping High Performance Coach Tom Slattery.

The Irish pony Bronze medals add to Ireland’s Individual European Silver Medal won in the Junior Show Jumping Championships last week by 17 year-old Wexford rider Bertram Allen and Molly Malone at Vejer de la Frontera in Spain.