FRESH after his team gold medal success in Riesenbeck, Paddy Reape was back ringside at his local show in Ballina on Sunday. Paddy, whose family own Ard Chuain Equestrian Centre in Corballa, was part of the Denis Flannelly-managed Irish squad in Riesenbeck that included dual gold medallist Emily Moloney, individual silver medallist Tabitha Kyle, Alice Wachman and Jack Kent.

“Brilliant show, good course-building and the ground was good all week,” said Paddy, whose next stop is Millstreet next week, followed by Dublin where he has qualified his European championship horse Mr Rocky Blue for the 1.40m young rider classes.

“He’s bred in the North by George McCullough and is by Chacoon Blue out of an Artos Z dam. We’ll do a few more shows towards the back end of the season. I’d love to go abroad some time and jump some of the four and five-star shows, that’s the dream. Hard to do, but sure I’ll try anyway!”