Kearney fourth in Euro Para Dressage Freestyle Final

IRELAND’S Helen Kearney missed a European medal by just over three percentage points in today’s Para Dressage Freestyle Final at Herning in Denmark.

The Wicklow-based rider and her Irish-bred horse Mister Cool had also come agonisingly close to a medal place on Thursday, when she again finished fourth in the Grade 1a championship class.

In today’s competition Kearney, who won a bronze medal at the 2011 European Championships, as well as three medals at the London Paralympics, finished on a score of 72.800.

However, the 24 year-old was pipped to the Bronze by Italy’s Sara Morganti and Royal Delight on a percentage score of 76.100. The Gold medal went to Britain’s Sophie Christiansen and Janeiro 6, while Silver was taken by another British combination, Anne Dunham and LJT Lucas Normark.

Ireland’s Kate Kerr-Horan and Arlande finished today’s Grade III Freestyle on 65.500 per cent, an improvement on their 60.842 score in Thursday’s Grade III class. This was her first year competing at this level.

Yesterday in the European Individual Show Jumping Final, Ireland’s Conor Swail and Lansdowne finished in 18th position overall on a penalty score of 36.00, while Shane Breen and Balloon took 19th with a score of 36.92. The Individual Gold went to France’s Roger Yves Bost with Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois, with Silver being claimed by Britain’s Ben Maher and Cella, while Bronze went to his fellow-countryman Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos.