Top seven finish for GAIN Irish U16 Dressage team at European Championships

The GAIN Irish U16 (Pony) Dressage team of Cillian Curran, Rachel Carr, Oscar O’Connor and Martha Jobling-Purser, managed by Anne Marie Dunphy, have finished seventh of eleven teams at the FEI Dressage European Championships 2020 for Ponies at Pilisjászfalu in Hungary.

13 August 2020; Team Ireland members, from left, Rachel Carr, Cillian Curran, Ireland team manager Anne Marie Dunphy and Oscar O’Connor during Pony Dressage squad final training at Spruce Lodge in Recross, Wicklow before travelling to the European Championships. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

On Wednesday, Rachel Carr riding Calelvador May Blossom scored 67.657% while Cillian Curran with Blokland’s Hoeve’s Amor scored 65.343. The second two Irish riders were in action today (Thursday) with Oscar O’Connor and Top Hero 2 scoring 66.414%, while the final team member, Martha Jobling-Purser with Valido’s Starlight, finished on 67.657% – the exact same score as teammate Rachel Carr. That left Ireland in seventh place of the 11 teams, finishing ahead of Finland, France, Czech Republic and Italy. Germany took the Gold medal while Denmark claimed Silver and Bronze went to The Netherlands.

All four members of the GAIN Irish team will now compete in the individual competition at the European Championships on Friday and Saturday, while the Freestyle final takes place on Sunday.

Speaking after the competition, Irish Pony Dressage team manager Anne Marie Dunphy said:

“This is a very sound team result for us and clearly shows the positive direction that Irish youth dressage is taking. We are always aiming for more but I am happy with what the team have achieved over the last two days in extraordinary times. The enormous effort and improvement from all the athletes in the run up to the championships has paid dividends. All have shown total focus, commitment, outstanding team spirit and we are looking forward to the individual competition tomorrow and Saturday ”