Double gold for pony eventers
Individual gold went to Galway’s Cathal Daniel, riding Master Murrose, with Tipperary’s Ana O’Brien — daughter of racing’s Aidan O’Brien — and Ice Cool Bailey claiming bronze. Their performances, along with those of Lucy Latta (Nono) and Gavin Smiddy (Mr Hale Bob), also helped to secure team gold .
The team led from post to finish, becoming the first Irish team to top the leaderboard after dressage. The quartet extended their lead in the cross-country, before holding off the British and Dutch in yesterday’s show jumping phase.
Team manager Sue Shortt was overjoyed, having seen her team pipped for gold at the last Europeans.
“I knew in the last few weeks that we had the best team Ireland had ever fielded at the European championships, and their performance was fantastic. I’m delighted for the kids, they deserved everything they won today.
“This is the first time an Irish team has ever led the field after dressage and we owe that to our dressage coach Sue Smallman, who turned the riders inside out in the months leading up to this. Also, Tom Slattery was magnificent helping us with the jumping phase, and I do believe that without the wonderful services of our team vet Con Kennedy we wouldn’t be on the podium today.
“I’d also like to mention our individual rider Kirsty Connell, who did a terrific job finishing in eighth with Little Indian Feather, who is just a seven-year-old, and I think is one to watch for the future.”
At Hickstead, England, Shane Breen added to Ireland’s nations cup win, by taking Saturday’s speed classic on the bay mare Ominerale Courcelle, denying Richie Moloney (Alsvid), whose double clear on his Top League debut was crucial in Friday’s team success.
Breen was also best of the Irish in yesterday’s King George V Gold Cup, four-faulting in the second round to place eighth with Cos I Can.
At San Patrignano, Italy, Conor Swail pocketed €15,000 for a first place in a 1.55m jump-off class with the Guidam stallion Lansdowne, while grand prix success just eluded Nicola FitzGibbon and Puissance at the three-star show in Ascona.
Also tasting victory, however, was Barry Capstick, who claimed the horse pairs class at Beekbergen in the Netherlands.
The Global Champions Tour contest in Chantilly, France, saw Denis Lynch jump rounds of four and clear to finish seventh on Abbervail van het Dingeshof, while a similar aggregate for Jessica Kürten placed her ninth on Vincente. Lynch’s performance sees him retain his second place on the GCT leaderboard. Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher and Magnus Romeo came out tops in a three-way, third-round jump-off at the French fixture.
Tipperary rider Lynch also placed third in a 1.50m contest with Lantinus, while Kürten steered API Largo to second place in a speed class.
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