Ireland showjumping team win silver at European showpiece
Galway’s Michael Duffy was first into the Milan arena riding the 14-year-old grey mare Cinca 3 and produced a third consecutive clear round.
The Irish senior showjumping team delivered an excellent performance to claim a silver medal in the team final of the FEI Jumping European Championship in Milan.
Michael Blake’s quartet of Michael Duffy, Trevor Breen, Shane Sweetnam and Eoin McMahon began the day in fourth place heading into the team final with less than a time fault separating the top four nations.
Following a successful Aga Khan Trophy debut in the Irish leg of the Longines FEI Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show last month, Galway’s Michael Duffy was first into the arena riding the 14-year-old grey mare Cinca 3 and produced a third consecutive clear round.
Overnight leaders Germany did not have the same luck as their first line rider Marcus Ehning withdrew from competition while the final fence fell for Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann to put the pressure on the two leaders.
After Breen’s ride aboard Highland President, Ireland moved up to the bronze-medal position as Germany dropped to fourth following a fence down for Philipp Weishaupt.
Corkman Sweetnam and horse James Kann Cruz were unlucky to add four faults to their total following an excellent clear round on Thursday but the fence down was not costly as Ireland moved into the silver-medal position with the final riders for each team left to jump.
Tipperary’s McMahon and the 11-year-old grey mare Mila were last out and one fence down put Blake’s men on a team total of 18 and in third.
Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs needed to jump clear to hold on to the silver medal but an uncharacteristic eight faults dropped them to sixth place and saw Ireland move back up to second.
Victory went to Sweden who completed on a team score of 9.51, with three of their four riders jumping clear.
“It’s a brilliant result, we’ve been so consistent all season – but I’m getting a little sick of finishing second,” said a delighted showjumping high performance director Blake.
“We’re the best programme in the world – I can bring a different five combinations to Nations Cups and championships and these riders and horses keep delivering.”
Attention now turns to today’s individual final with Duffy currently in third place.
