IRELAND won the silver medal at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championships at Blenheim Palace thanks to superb cross-country and show jumping efforts from Padraig McCarthy (Pomp N Circumstance), Ian Cassells (Millridge Atlantis) and Robbie Kearns (Chance Encounter). It was the country’s first European team medal for 30 years.

Ireland had been in seventh place after the opening dressage phase on Friday, before an outstanding cross-country performance on Saturday moved them up five places to second heading into the final phase.

Germany led from start to finish and won on a final tally of 124.9, while France won the hard-fought battle for third with 167.5. Ireland’s final score was 161.9, with Aoife Clark the discard score after she and Full Monty De Lacense were eliminated on what was a very testing Captain Mark Phillips-designed cross-country track.

Switzerland were denied a podium spot after coming into the final day in third when both Nadja Minder and Melody Johner had final phase jumping penalties for a team tally of 183.3.

While Great Britain were out of the team hunt after a disastrous cross-country day where two team riders (Yasmin Ingham and Bubby Upton) were eliminated after falls on the course, they took individual gold (Laura Collett and London 52) and bronze (Tom McEwen and JL Dublin).

Second place in the individual competition went to Germany’s Michael Jung riding Fischerchipmunk FRH. Jung, a three-time European champion and triple Olympic gold medallist was faultless in the show jumping, while his teammates all faulted, and this led the German team to what was a convincing seventh European team victory.

The winning German team comprised Jung and his teammates Libussa Lubbeke (Caramina 34), Malin Hansen Hotopp (Carlitos Quiddich) and Jérôme Robiné (Black Ice (ISH)). The French team, all of whom left the poles intact in the final phase to creep up one spot from fourth, comprised Luc Chateau (Cocorico De L’Ebat), Sebastian Cavaillon (Elipso De La Vigne) and Astier Nicolas (Alertamalib’Or).

Padraig McCarthy with Pomp N Circumstance during the cross country for the FEI Eventing European Championship 2025 \ Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

Cross-country success

Ireland’s phenomenal team second followed a very successful cross-country day and, when team anchorman Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis (ISH) came home as the last rider of the day with just time penalties, the silver medal position was Ireland’s for the taking.

As team chef d’equipe Dag Albert said, the decision to bring strong cross-country horses paid off. “It feels great, everybody so wanted this, “ he said. “We’ve been close a few times but not quite there, but this week they all performed super so it’s a very good feeling. I thought Phillips would do a decent cross-country course so the instinct was to bring good cross-country horses - fast, galloping horses, so that’s what we did and it worked out.

“We walked the course a lot as a team and with individual riders. Our plan was go straight everywhere because all our horses were able for it. We knew there were going to be time faults, but there was no need to panic. We had Switzerland breathing down our neck on the final day and a very strong French team. I don’t think Ian knew he had three fences in hand when he went to show jump, he thought he had one, but that worked out for the best in the end - they all did a fantastic job.

“With the team selection, I just went on what the riders had done performance-wise over the past six to 12 months but look, they are all very competent riders, I’m so proud of them. It really feels like we are on the up.”

Albert added: “I need to thank so many people who have contributed to this medal win. All of our owners, grooms, my coaching team, all the support staff, team vet, Aileen Cartwright in the HSI office and, of course, the riders. It’s a huge team effort and this one is for everyone.”

Cassells, a championship team first-timer, was thrilled with his cross-country round with Millridge Atlantis, commenting: “There was a lot of pressure going out today; it’s my first senior team Europeans and being anchorman obviously you have a big role to play. There was pressure to get him home in one piece and be as quick as I could, but to get around clear for the team was important; I am delighted to have contributed.”

Padraig McCarthy and Robbie Kearns were also clear across the country with the exception of time penalties. Kearns recovered from a dramatic near miss at the latter end of the course and was clearly relieved to have stayed on to deliver for the team.

“He was super, he is such a machine to gallop,” Kearns said. “I had a very smooth ride up until that moment (the stumble at 28). I think I gave everyone a heart attack including myself but he was amazing, he has a fifth leg, it’s that Irish breeding he just knows to aim for the flags and I’m just so chuffed with him.”

Ian Cassells (IRL) riding Millridge Atlantis, Cross Country at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championships \ Nigel Goddard

Experience pays off

On the final day, Padraig McCarthy’s experience was a huge help to the Irish and, with an advantage of just over two poles, his stunning show jumping clear with Pomp N Circumstance (Pompadour) was vital to seal the silver. He had added 16.8 cross-country time penalties to a dressage score of 35.2 to finish on his day two score of 52 penalties for the best Irish individual finish of 12th place.

“The horse did what he always does - he’s an amazing jumper, I think that’s now 11 clears in a row at four-star level, so it’s a very different feeling walking up here today than approaching the cross-country. He gave me such a good feeling, he’s been super fresh all week.”

Robbie Kearns and Chance Encounter (ISH by Creevagh Grey Rebel) were the first Irish combination to jump in the final phase and they added four jumping penalties and 0.4 for time for a final score of 56.9, 18th individually.

“The horse was amazing, he really tried his heart out - I just got him a little too close to fence three. But he was quick enough and kept the rest of them up so I’m really chuffed with him.

“I’m absolutely delighted with this result on my first senior championship team, I’m very lucky to ride such a superstar and very thankful to my owners Tanya and Richard Ames, they have been very good to me.”

The last in on Sunday afternoon was team anchorman Ian Cassells, who took on the pressure and helped turn it into a silver medal with just one pole down and 2.8 for time aboard Millridge Atlantis (ISH by Dinan Cascaletto). This saw him finish on 53 penalties for 15th individually, as well as securing team silver. “I’m so relieved! There was a lot of pressure today but we all put in really solid performances to get team silver,” Cassells said. “I’m delighted for myself and the owners, but also for everyone involved.”

Ireland’s last European Championship team medal in eventing came at Pratoni del Vivaro in Italy in 1995, when the Irish team of Mark Barry, Virginia McGrath, Eric Smiley and Lucy Thompson took home the bronze medal. The last European silver medal win for Ireland was on home soil in Punchestown in 1991 with the quartet of Sonya Duke, Olivia Holohan, Jeremy Spring and Fiona Wentges, while Ireland’s sole European eventing team gold medal win, remains as the 1979 triumph in Luhmühlen, Germany of John Watson, David Foster, Alan Lillingston and Helen Cantillon. Cathal Daniels won Ireland’s last individual European medal (bronze) in 2019 with Rioghan Rua.