IRISH pony eventing rider Zara Nelson produced a commanding performance to capture the individual bronze medal at the European Pony Championship in Malmo, Sweden last Sunday, adding to the Irish pony show jumping team’s silver medal win at the same venue.

Fourteen-year-old Nelson riding Kieran Connors and Michelle Nelson’s Millridge Buachaill Bui (ISH), completed three demanding phases of the championship with only 1.6 cross country time penalties being added to her original dressage score.

Nelson held the bronze medal position heading into the final show jumping phase, where she produced a fault-free round to finish on the podium.

Gold went to Germany’s Calvin Böckmann and Askaban B, while silver was claimed by France’s Melissa Prevost with Podeenagh Aluinn.

Ireland had another top-ten finisher in Lucy Hancock, who took sixth place with Newton Westie (ISH).

The Irish pony European eventing team of Nelson, Hancock, Maresa Ronan and Alex Power fell just 13 penalties short of a medal when they took fourth overall, with gold going to Great Britain, silver to France and bronze to Sweden.

In individual show jumping, Ireland’s Mikey Pender and Imagine If One (ISH) finished fifth overall, with victory claimed by Justine Maerte of France with Shamrock Du Gite.

The Irish pony European show jumping team took the silver medal last Friday when Pender, Olivia Roulston, Abbie Sweetnam and Luke Garrigan finished only three faults adrift of gold medallists Great Britain, with France taking Bronze.