IRELAND have won the silver medal at the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace thanks to a superb show jumping clear from Padraig McCarthy and just four faults apiece for Ian Cassells and Robbie Kearns - both of whom were senior championships team first-timers.

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 were eliminated after falls on the course, they took individual first (Laura Collett and London 52) and third (Tom McEwen and JL Dublin). Second place in the individual competition went to Germany's Michael Jung riding Fischerchipmunk FRH.

Cross country success

Ireland's team second followed a very 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’équipe 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.

"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."

Cassells 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 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 relived to have stayed on to deliver for the team.

Ian Cassells (IRL) riding Millridge Atlantis, Cross Country at the Agria FEI Eventing European Champi

"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."

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 show jumping clear with Pomp N Circumstance sealed 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 were the first Irish combination to jump in the final phase and 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."

"Incredibly proud"

Individual rider Sarah Ennis, riding her own Dourough Ferro Class Act (aka 'Larry'), was next in and had four show jumping and two for time in the final phase after adding just 18 cross country time penalties to her dressage score of 31 for a total of 55 and 15th place.

“He was jumping out of his skin, I'm so incredibly proud," Ennis said after the cross country. "In the warm up, I was a little bit concerned he was jumping too high and ballooning so I jumped a few fences, let him have a breather, jumped again. He was a little bit better but like, what a horse!

"You could put a two year-old on him and he’d go round that track. Honestly, you just say go here and he’s like, okay, there’s the flags. I never had to like squeeze him inside the flag. He’s just so honest. He loves it.”'

Sarah Ennis riding Dourough Ferro Class Act during the cross-country at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championship \ Peter Nixon

The last in 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. 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 Susie Berry was disappointed to fault on the cross country with Clever Trick and started day three in 34th but moved up one spot to 33rd with a lovely show jumping round and just one pole down.

Individual leaders

Individually, Laura Collett (GBR) and London 52 moved up from second to first place after the cross country when she added just six time penalties to her dressage score of 20.6. Dressage leader Michael Jung (GER) and Fischerchipmunk FRH had 10 time penalties, which, when added to their phenomenal first phase score of 18.3, saw them go into show jumping in second on 28.3. Collett held it together under the pressure of going last in front of the home crowd and delivered the individual win with a lovely clear (0.4 for time) to finish the championships in style on 27. Jung was also clear for second on 28.3 and McEwen and JL Dublin secured third with a further clear and a total of 33 penalties.

IRISH BREEDING:

Clever Trick (ISH) – 2015 mare by FINANCIAL REWARD out of BONNIE DOLLY. Breeder: Vincent Cousins . Owner: Ann Marling and Sue Wilkinson, ridden by Susie Berry

Millridge Atlantis (ISH) – 2014 gelding by Dinan Cascaletto (ISH) out of Kereen Sue (ISH) by Warrenstown You 2 (ISH). Breeder: Sean O’Loughlin, Co Kilkenny. Owner: Fiona Leahy and Gerry Leahy

Dourough Ferro Class Act (ISH)– 2015 gelding by S CREEVAGH FERRO (KWPN) out of ISHD CLASS ACT (ISH) by O.B.O.S. QUALITY 004 (OLD). Bred by Gordon Drury, owned by James and Niki Potterton, ridden by Sarah Ennis.

Chance Encounter VII. (ISH)(TIH) – 2009 gelding by Creevagh Grey Rebel (ID) out of Camedia (TB) by Lord Americo (TB). Breeder: Robin Johnson (Antrim). Rider: Robbie Kearns (IRL)