IRELAND finished a respectable eighth of the 12 teams taking part in the FEI Para Dressage European Championships in Ermelo, The Netherlands, when they scored 202.417 over the weekend. Simone Hession’s team of Angela Lyons, Jessica McKenna, Katie Reilly and Clodagh Walsh rode consistently throughout to secure a top-10 finish against tough competition.

Hession commented afterwards: “I knew coming here I had a young team and it’s very much a year of development, so to come eighth out of 12 teams is a good result. I’m very happy and excited for the future, given the ability to score much higher from all our riders.”

Germany showed their class to win gold in the team competition on a fantastic score of 224.454, with The Netherlands in the silver medal position on 223.362, followed by Denmark, who took bronze on 221.974.

Individually, Walsh and her mount Chantal qualified for the Para Grand Prix Freestyle Individual Grade I Final on Sunday, where they placed seventh on 71.367%. The gold medal here was won by Latvia’s Rihards Snikus on King of the Dance on an impressive 80.674%, ahead of Italy’s Sara Morganti on Mariebelle (79.827) in second place and Britain’s Mari Durward-Akhurst on Athene Lindebjerg (77.140) in third.

Super score

In the Grade II final, Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing on Poesie 143 took gold on a super score of 80.934%; while Katrine Kristensen (DEN) on Goerklintgaards Quarter claimed silver on 78.374% and bronze went to Jemima Green (GBR) on Fantabulous on 76.307%.

Reilly had qualified Keystone Dawn Chorus for the Para Grand Prix Freestyle Individual Grade III Final, where they placed eighth on 71.247%. The gold medal went to Rixt van der Horst (NED) on Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P. on 80.634%; Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen on Jolene Hill took silver on 79.807%; and bronze went to Italy’s Francesca Salvade on Escari on 76.274%.

The Grade IV final saw France’s Alexia Pittier on Sultan 768 claiming gold on 78.055%; Sweden’s Louise Etzner Jakonsson on Goldstrike BJ taking silver on 75.145% and Denmark’s Pia Wulff Jeistrup on Zafia settling for bronze on a score of 74.995%.

The Grade V gold medal went to Regine Mispelkamp (GER) on Pramwaldhof’s Bayala on 77.700%; silver went to Britney de Jong (NED) on Caramba N.O.P. on 76.490%, while Lena Malmstrom (SWE) on Fabulous Fidelie took bronze on 75.615%.

With strong competition and high scores throughout the championships, Irish para riders did themselves proud and their performance under pressure gives great hope for the future.

The Irish Para Dressage team is generously sponsored by TRM Nutrition, Equieire and Dubarry of Ireland.