THE Irish eventing team finished fourth at the FEI Eventing World Championships in Aachen today (Sunday), securing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Their final score of 122.5 was nine points adrift of USA who rose from fifth to secure the bronze medal.
The all-conquering British team of Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo), Laura Collet (London 52), Tom McEwen (Dublin) and Gemma Stevens (Flash Cooley, ISH bred by Jim O'Neill) won the team gold medal on a score of 84. Germany took the silver on home soil on 95.6 while their hero Michael Jung took the individual gold medal with a fabulous clear when last to go with the 18-year-old gelding fischerChipmunk FRH.
The top three after cross country remained the same when Canter secured the individual silver with a clear round, just after compatriot Laura Collett had picked up four faults, but it was good enough to keep her on the podium in third.
“I'm speechless,” Jung said afterwards. “This horse is unbelievable. He's doing dressage; he's running in the cross-country and he's doing the show jumping like a show jumper. He's jumping carefully and is so powerful and he's so nice to ride. I'm so thankful for the for the help of the fisher group that I have this amazing horse. It's just a dream to ride him.”
He added: “The World Games was always our dream. It's a very big big thing in this country. The stadium is such a cool atmosphere; it's a special place. I feel so lucky that I can enjoy this. This is unbelievable."
First to go for the Irish team was Ian Cassells with aboard Ber, Fiona and Gerry Leahy’s 12-year-old gelding Millridge Atlantis. They picked up eight faults.
Padraig McCarthy was next with his home-bred championship debutant MGH Zabaione, owned by the rider, Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell. They jumped a great round for just once fence down and a time penalty.
Two-time Olympic partnership Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue were third to jump for the Irish team and knocked the flimsy plank to also pick up four faults and finished 19th.
The final team rider was Aoife Clark with the 11-year-old gelding Full Monty de Lacense, owned by the Ace of Spades Syndicate. They started the day in 12th place individually and moved up one slot to finish 11th.
EXTENSIVE REPORTING IN NEXT SATURDAY’S THE IRISH FIELD.