Irish U21 Show Jumping team win Silver medal at European Championships

Less than 24 hours after the Irish U18 team won the Gold medal at the FEI European Championships at Riesenbeck in Germany, the Irish U21 team today (Friday) claimed the Silver medal at the Championships with another brilliant performance.

The Irish Young Riders started the day in the Gold medal position on a score of 4,61 after a flawless display on Thursday. Tipperary’s Tom Wachman and Obora’s Laura gave Ireland the perfect start with a clear as first to go for Michael Blake’s team in the final round. Clare’s Coen Williams and Floris R Z kept all the fences standing as second to jump, but picked up three time penalties which would prove crucial at the finish. Kilkenny’s Tim Brennan and Diadema della Caccia finished with 4 faults, before Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy and the Austin Broderick-bred BP Rocket Man (ISH) jumped clear as last to go. That left Ireland as Silver medal winners on a final score of 7.61 and when Belgium completed the final round with three clears, they would take the Gold medal with a score of 5.72, while Britain secured Bronze on 24.05.

Three Irish riders are inside the top seven heading into Sunday’s Young Rider individual final at the Championships, with Niamh McEvoy in fifth, just ahead of Tom Wachman in sixth and Tim Brennan in seventh, with less than one fence separating the top seven combinations.

Irish Horse Board Director General Alison Corbally said:

“This was another exceptional performance from Irish Youth athletes to secure our second team medal of the Championships. Many congratulations to all of the riders, their families and all the support staff who make these results possible. A special mention also to Tipperary’s Austin Broderick who is the breeder of BP Rocket Man and we wish them and all of the other Irish combinations the very best of luck in the individual finals over the weekend.”

BREEDING

BP Rocket Man (ISH) 2017 Bay gelding By Stakkato Gold (HANN) Out of BP Quidy (ISH) By Quidam Junior I (KWPN) Bred by Austin Broderick.