THERE were more team medals for the Irish riders in Hungary when the Gain Irish pony eventing team of Zara Nelson, Hannah Adams, Isabelle Comerford and Jennifer Kuehnle won the team bronze medal at the FEI European Championships for Ponies in Kaposvar last Saturday.

They secured the team bronze (U16) after posting brilliant performances over all three phases of competition. Gold medal honours went to France on a team score of 141.60, with Britain taking silver on 152.40.

Chef d’equipe Becky Cullen’s team of Zara Nelson (Millridge Buachaill Bui (ISH), Hannah Adams (Myshall Rodge (CP), and Isabelle Comerford (Colour Me Fancy (ISH) – who are all from Co Kildare – along with Laois’s Jennifer Kuehnle (Fernhill Timbacktoo), finished on a total of 170.20 after dressage, cross-country and the final show jumping phase. Ireland finished 15 penalties ahead of The Netherlands in fourth, with Germany fifth, Italy sixth and Belgium seventh.

More was to come from Zara Nelson who finished best of the Irish individually in ninth place with the Irish Sport Horse pony Millridge Buachaill Bui.

A thrilled Becky Cullen said: “We are all delighted, our riders were brilliant. We were a bit off the pace after dressage and to be honest I was delighted to see that the cross-country was tough as that suited our team. I think our riders put in some of the best cross-country rounds of any of the teams.

“Jennifer Kuehnle was unlucky. Her pony stood in a hole in the water and tripped. She was brilliant in the final jumping, supporting the other riders, giving advice and using her experience having won a medal before. They kept it together in the final jumping phase and were under pressure when down to just three riders and no discard score.

“I want to thank all the support team, the owners, parents, sponsors and the staff at Horse Sport Ireland who helped to make this happen.”

HSI interim chairman Jim Beecher added: “This is incredible achievement from this Irish pony eventing team. Eventing requires a huge among of work and dedication. I want to congratulate Becky Cullen and her team.”