Merveldt second in Austria, Reynolds qualifies for WEG

KILDARE-born Anna Merveldt finished second in this evening’s (Sunday) Grand Prix Special at the three-star show in Stadl Paura in Austria with her 14 year-old gelding ‘Coryolano’, just over two points behind Germany’s Olympic gold medallist Ulla Salzgeber. repeating her Saturday result, when she also finished second to Salzgeber.

But it was Naas-born Judy Reynolds’s 10th place with ‘Remember’ in the Grand Prix that radically changed Ireland’s profile for the upcoming World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky, USA.

A single score above 65 per cent by one of Saturday’s judges tipped Reynolds into qualification for WEG, meaning that Ireland now has a dressage team for Kentucky, comprising Reynolds, Merveldt and the reigning Irish national dressage champion, Yvette Truesdale from Hillsborough in Co. Down.