IRELAND’s pony eventing team brought home a total of five medals from last weekend’s FEI European Championships in Bishop Burton when claiming a team silver medal, as well as Sophie Foyle’s individual silver.

Guided by chef d’equipe Becky Cullen, the team of Holly Love with Michael Love’s Cloughreagh Charlie (ISH) (TIH); Chloe Fagan and Fernhill Timbacktoo, owned by Carol Gee; Harry Swan with Deirdre Loughran’s Wilderwood Storm (ISH); and Isabelle Comerford with Patrick Comerford’s Colour Me Fancy (ISH) put in a fantastic performance for their country.

The team were in fourth place after the opening dressage phase on Friday, with Fagan producing the best score of 29.20. Four clear rounds in Saturday’s cross-country phase saw them move up to the silver medal position heading into Sunday’s final round.

Fagan and Comerford picked up four faults each in Sunday’s final, while Love was the discard score with two poles on the floor, but brilliant clear rounds from Swan saw Ireland finished second on the podium on a total of 107.5, just behind the gold medal-winning home team from Britain on 101.0. France claimed bronze on 108.5.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Becky Cullen said: “They were brilliant. What was very exciting was that we were the only country who had all six rider on a clean sheet after the country-country. As last year, our riders stood out with their riding skills and performance on the cross-country. I was confident we would get a medal, we had good jumping ponies.

“We had a brilliant team atmosphere. Ken Mahon was my advisor and assistant. We had Vina Buller out, Tom Doherty, Sue Smallman and Yogi Breisner was also there giving us tips.

“Ava Banahan deserves a mention, she was brilliant to finish ninth as an individual. It was an exceptional performance to finish on her dressage score and unlucky to be going home without a medal. Her performance was top class and she stayed smiling and was part of the squad all week,” Cullen added.

Ronan Murphy, CEO of Horse Sport Ireland, said: “This really is a superb result from our riders as a team and also individually. They were hugely impressive in all three phases and put themselves in a great position on the final day.

“They showed incredible composure to bring home the team silver medal along with individual silver for Sophie Foyle. I want to congratulate all our team and individual riders and their families, our pony eventing team manager Becky Cullen and thank all our loyal sponsors.”