U18 Show Jumpers win Individual Gold and Silver as Irish medal rush continues at Europeans

Ireland’s domination at the 2025 FEI European Championships for Youth Show Jumping athletes at Riesenbeck in Germany continued today (Saturday), after Kilkenny’s Emily Moloney secured the U18 individual Gold medal and Tipperary’s Tabitha Kyle claimed U18 individual Silver, to add to the U18s team gold medal the pair won on Thursday.

It was an outstanding display from the two Irish teenagers who both were riding Irish-bred horses, and comes just 24 hours after the Irish U21s won team silver at the Championships on Friday.

Riding the Susan McDonald-bred Temple Alice (ISH), Emily Moloney started the day in the silver medal position. Two clear rounds from the Kilkenny athlete put the pressure on Swiss rider Laura Andre who was in the lead heading into the final round. The Swiss athlete would lower two fences in the final round and that left Moloney as the new European U18 individual Champion.

Tipperary’s Tabitha Kyle and the Kevin Babington-bred BP Goodfellas (ISH) had been in eighth place starting the final day, with two flawless clears propelling her all the way into the Silver medal position at the finish, while the Bronze went to Sweden’s Liam Nilsson with Ulla Bella Hastak. Tipperary’s Alice Wachman and Killarney finished just outside the top 10 in 11th position, while the fourth member of the Gold medal winning Irish team from Thursday – Sligo’s Paddy Reape, finished in 25th place overall.

Alison Corbally, Director General of the Irish Horse Board commented:
“What a performance from these Junior riders to win individual Gold and Silver to add to their team Gold medal from earlier in the week. Huge congratulations to Emily Moloney and Tabitha Kyle and their families on an amazing achievement and also to Susan McDonald and Kevin Babington who are the breeders of these two fantastic Irish medal winning horses.”

There is one more chance for Irish medal success on Sunday, with three Irish riders inside the top seven heading into the U21 individual final at the Championships. Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy is in fifth, just ahead of Tipperary’s Tom Wachman in sixth and Kilkenny’s Tim Brennan in seventh, with less than one fence separating the top seven combinations.

BREEDING:
Temple Alice (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Foxglen Cruise Control out of Innishannon Shamrock (ISH) (TIH) by Rantis Diamond (ISH). Breeder: Susan McDonald Owner: Eddie Moloney and TSI Equestrian
BP Goodfellas (ISH) – 2017 gelding by Stakkato Gold out of Goodwins Loyalty (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004. Breeder: Kevin Babington and GBBS Int. Ltd, Owner: GBBS Int. Ltd