'Dreams come true' for emotional Ireland with Euro eventing medal 

Silver at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire was Ireland's first European medal in 30 years.

Ireland's eventers are celebrating a first European Championship team medal for 30 years after securing silver at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.

The quartet of Padraig McCarthy, Robbie Kearns, Ian Cassells and Aoife Clark produced an outstanding display to finish second behind Germany, with France in third.

With three counting scores required, there was no room for error during Sunday's showjumping finale after Clark and Full Monty De Lacense were eliminated during cross-country 24 hours earlier.

Germany, spearheaded by three-time Olympic individual champion Michael Jung, held a huge lead before the showjumping phase, leaving Ireland to hold off France and Switzerland for runners-up spot.

And they delivered under immense pressure to regain a place among the European elite following silver at Pratoni, Italy in 1995.

Kearns had one fence down with just 0.4 of a time penalty on Chance Encounter, before experienced campaigner McCarthy steered Pomp N Circumstance to a brilliant clear round inside the 81 seconds allowed and Cassells completed the job aboard Millridge Atlantis, having four jumping penalties and 2.8 time.

It gave Ireland a final team score of 161.9, 37 behind Germany, while France took bronze on 167.5 and Switzerland were fourth (183.5).

McCarthy finished 12th individually, two places ahead of Cassells, while Kearns was 18th. Britain's Laura Collett won individual gold, edging Jung into silver and another British rider Tom McEwen was third.

Two other Irish riders competed as individuals only, with Sarah Ennis ending in 15th place and Susie Berry 33rd.

"It was an amazing feeling coming into Sunday, and it is certainly an historic day for Ireland to win that silver medal again," McCarthy said.

And Cassells added: "It is a nerve wracking experience, and to really try to deliver it is a lot of pressure.

"But I am delighted that four of us could put in a great performance and we have done it together. Everyone has their part to play - riders, horses, trainers, grooms, everything - and I couldn't think of anything better, to be honest."

For Collett, it was the biggest individual title of her career as the double Olympic gold medallist triumphed on London 52.

The British team suffered two elininations on cross-coutry, ruling them out of medal contention, but Collett's victory secured a hat-trick of European individual wins for her country after Nicola Wilson (2021) and Ros Canter (2023).

A tearful Collett said: "I can't tell you how much I have wanted this, mainly for the horse and for him to have the championship he deserves.

"They say dreams come true, but I didn't even dream this. It tops everything."