IRELAND's pony riders have once again come home with an impressive collection of medals, after brilliant performances at the 2026 FEI European Pony Championships held at Le Mans in France.

The Irish pony eventing team of Armagh's Kitty Cullen (Greenaun Russel (CP), Waterford's Lillymai Walsh (Chapel Hill Dark Spark (ISH), Wexford's Anna Radford (Essenar Double Dutch (ISH) and Kildare's Tadgh O'Haire (Ballinagore Hero), managed by Debbie Byrne, claimed the team silver medal on Sunday morning. Ireland finished on a final score of 123.8, less than a fence behind France who won the gold on a score of 120.5, while the bronze went to Germany on 144.2.

On the individual standings, Ireland's Anna Radford secured the silver medal with a score of 34.7. Lillymai Walsh finished just one place outside the medals in fourth, while Ellen O'Neill finished in sixth place.

Silver for Ted Fagan

Having helped Ireland secure team silver on Friday, Westmeath's Ted Fagan took the individual silver medal today with Ballyfore Rosie. Ted came into the final in the lead on a zero score after jumping clear in all of the previous rounds earlier in the week. He jumped clear in the first round of Sunday's final but one fence down in the second round saw Britain's Sophia Rodgers and Neill 55 take the gold medal, while the bronze went to Britain's Lucia Nicole Caroline and Holly Blue. Sam Widger finished fifth with BP Bon Jovi, just ahead of Charlie Flynn in sixth with Montana.

Although Fagan’s rail moved him from the gold to silver medal position, he was still pleased with the result. “I feel great,” said Fagan, who was riding in his first European Championship. “To get two silver medals here is unbelievable. I didn’t expect to win a medal at all.”

Irish team on the podium at their silver medal at the FEI Jumping European Championship for Ponies in Le Mans \ foto-job.com

Irish Horse Board Director General Alison Corbally said: "Congratulations to all of our eventing and show jumping Pony riders, their parents, coaches and the breeders of the Irish ponies on their brilliant performances at the European Championships in Le Mans. It comes just a week after Irish riders also took a large medal haul at the Youth European Championships in Germany and shows the talent that we have in the next generation of Irish athletes."