IRELAND is bringing home another gold medal from the underage FEI European Championships in Fontainebleau, France, after Jason Foley was crowned the Junior (Under 18) European Champion this morning.

Riding Martin Egan’s Irish Sport Horse Castlefield Vegas, Foley didn’t touch a pole until the final round of the individual competition but his score of 5.59 was good enough to hold on to the top podium place from Britain’s Oliver Fletcher (6.20) in second and Belgium’s Simon Morssinkhof who took the bronze (11.31).

A hugely impressive clear in the final round moved Kate Derwin up to fourth place, just outside the medals, with AHG Whiterock Cruise, rising from 17th place overnight. Derwin and Foley were part of the team who won bronze on Friday, led by chef d’equipe James Kernan.

Foley’s medal is the second gold of the weekend after 13-year-old Rhys Williams was crowned the Children on Horses European Champion at the same venue yesterday (Saturday).

Foley rides with Ger O’Neill at Castlefield Stables in Co Kilkenny.

FULL RESULTS

More on this in next week’s The Irish Field.