HORSE SPORT IRELAND: IRELAND'S YOUNG RIDER TEAM TAKE SILVER AT EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS

Source: News Release/Colin McClelland

IRELAND'S YOUNG RIDER TEAM TAKE SILVER AT EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS

IRELAND'S Young Rider team took the silver medal at the European Eventing Championships in Malmo, Sweden today (Sunday)

Lying fifth after dressage, the team of Katie Nolan, Jessica O'Driscoll, David Hannigan and Shane Power leapfrogged to third overall following a superb cross country round, behind leaders Germany and second-placed France.

With the withdrawal of team member Jessica O'Driscoll and Mr. Beau Jangles before the cross country phase, the Irish were left without a discard score, but clears from two of the remaining trio - Power on TLB Interactive and Nolan on Kilbeg Cool Diamond - were enough to push the team into bronze position overnight.

Today, clear show jumping rounds from Nolan and four faults from Power, together with a five fault round from David Hannigan and Red Baron, toppled the French team down into Bronze medal position, with Germany holding on to their overnight Gold.

Ireland's individual competitor at Malmo, Melanie Young riding Riverstown Express, finished 13th overall.

In the individual standings, team members Shane Power and Katie Nolan also claimed seventh and eighth place, respectively.

All four on the Irish team rode Irish Sport Horses in the championships.

The Irish team was:
Katie Nolan (Navan, Co. Meath)/Kilbeg Cool Diamond (ISH)
Jessica O'Driscoll (Carrigaline, Co. Cork)/Mr Beau Jangles (ISH)
David Hannigan (Fethard, Co. Tipperary)/Red Baron (ISH)
Shane Power (Clane, Co. Kildare)/TLB Interactive (ISH)

Individual: Melanie Young (Maynooth, Co. Kildare) Riverstown Express.