European Silver Medal for Irish Junior (U18) Eventing team – Tom Nestor takes individual silver

Ireland (silver), Germany (gold) and Great Britain (bronze) share the podium at the 2024 FEI European Eventing Championships for Juniors and Young Riders (Photo: Leszek Wójcik/ Strzegom Horse Trials)

The Irish Junior (U18) Eventing team have taken the silver medal at the 2024 FEI European Eventing Championships for Juniors and Young Riders in Strzegom, Poland. The Irish quartet of Tom Nester (Cooley Diamond Dancer (ISH), Matthew Love (DSL Allegra (ISH), Oleana Cowan (RCA Royal Mist) and Alex Connors (OLS King Aragon (ISH), managed by Sue Short, finished on a final score of 94.9. Germany claimed the gold medal, less than one fence ahead of Ireland on 91.1 while Great Britain took home the bronze on 100.4.

Tom Nestor (IRL). Hannah Busch (GER) and Mae Rinaldi (FRA) secured the Junior individual medals at the 2024 FEI European Eventing Championships for Juniors and Young Riders (Photo: Leszek Wójcik/ Strzegom Horse Trials)


Tom Nester and Cooley Diamond Dancer (ISH) secured the individual silver medal with a final score of 29.9. Three Irish riders finished inside the top 10 individually with Alex Connors and OLS King Aragon (ISH) in 7th, just ahead of Matthew Love and DSL Allegra (ISH) in 9th. Oleana Cowan and RCA Royal Mist finished in 19th, with Gearoid Bolger and Into Mischief (ISH) in 31st.

Tom Nester and Cooley Diamond Dancer (ISH) in action during the Cross Country phase at the 2024 FEI European Eventing Championships for Juniors and Young Riders (Photo: Leszek Wójcik/ Strzegom Horse Trials)

The Irish Young Rider (U21) team of Godfrey Gibbons (Milchem Miami (ISH), Tara Murphy (Monbeg Maximus (ISH), Isny O’Donnell (Vital DK Z) and Keeva Johnson (Cornasaus Lad (ISH) finished just one place outside the medals in fourth.

BREEDING
Cooley Diamond Dancer (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Jack of Diamonds out of Lucy Blue bred by Claire McDonnell
OLS King Aragon (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Samgemjee out of Just Beauty Queen bred by Kieran Connors
DSL Allegra (ISH) – 2014 mare by Jack of Diamonds out of Aquila bred by Messrs Wright & Bjoerk
Into Mischief (ISH) – 2014 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 out of Savanna Twist bred by Brianne Stanley