IRELAND’s youth show jumpers have secured a hat-trick of medals at the 2026 European Youth Show Jumping Championships at Hagen in Germany, with Waterford’s Jack Kent crowned the new Junior (U18) European Champion, Tipperary’s Tom Wachman securing the individual silver medal in the Young Rider (U21) final, adding to the Young Rider team silver medal won by Ireland on Friday.
Two clear rounds in the final saw Jack Kent and the 12-year-old gelding Ollie van de Klotputten rise from overnight fifth place to take the Junior gold medal on a score of 2.33 - two years after he also won individual gold at the pony European Championships at Opglabbeek in The Netherlands. Jack had been part of the Irish Junior team, along with Annie Boland, Cian McMunn, Senan Reape and Brid Ryan that finished in eighth place in the Junior team final on Friday.
Reflecting on his victory, Kent said: “From start to finish it’s been kind of unbelievable really. The teams didn’t finish the way we wanted it to, but I kept going on the Individual score and sure, I’m lucky that the horse jumped brilliantly all week and kept getting better and better – I’m delighted, absolutely over the moon!”
Wachman wins silver
There was also huge success for Tipperary's Tom Wachman who claimed the European Young Rider (U21) individual silver medal after another brilliant performance. Wachman started the final in fifth place and produced two flawless clears in the final two rounds aboard the 13-year-old gelding Do It Easy, to propel himself all the way to the silver medal position with a score of 1.62. Italy's Greta Lepratti and Mercy van 't Ruytershof are the new European Young Rider Champions, taking the gold medal on a score of 0.58.
Tom Wachman (IRL), Do It Easy \ www.sportfotos-lafrentz.de/Stefan Lafrentz
On Friday, the Irish Young Rider (U21) team of Timmy Brennan, Tabitha Kyle, Tom Wachman, Ben Walshe and Coen Williams, managed by Denis Flannelly, won the European silver medal. Ireland started the team final in second place on a score of 7.11 and added just four penalties in the final round to complete on a score of 11.11. The Netherlands took the gold medal on a score of 5.80 while the bronze went to Belgium on 16.68.
Two Irish riders have finished in the top 12 in the Children On Horses (U14) individual competition on Saturday in Hagen. Lucia Keane finished just one place outside the medals in fourth position after an outstanding performance to complete on a score of 3.51. Ellie Sheane with Monbeg Hendricks (ISH) bred by Michael Byrne, finished in 12th overall on a score of 8.85.
Bronze at Under 25 World Championships
Meanwhile, Millstreet in Co Cork hosted in inaugural FEI Eventing Under 25 World Championships where the Irish team of Isny O'Donnell, Jennifer Kuehnle, Tom Nestor and Godfrey Gibbons claimed the team bronze medal.
Germany's Calvin Böckmann and Altair de la Cense wrote their names into the history books by becoming the first individual champions at the FEI Eventing U25 World Championship in Millstreet (IRL). Great Britain claimed team gold, while Cerys Macaulay (GBR) and Kananaskis secured individual silver ahead of Olivia Dutton (USA) and the Irish Sport Horse Jewelent (by Valent, bred by JW Rosbotham) in a thrilling conclusion to the first edition.
The championship brought together 40 athletes from 14 nations for the first global title at Under 25 level, bridging the gap between Young Rider and senior championship competition.
READ FULL REPORTS FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SATURDAY’S THE IRISH FIELD.