THE Irish pony eventing team claimed the team bronze medal at the FEI European Championships for Ponies in Le Mans, France.

The team of Ben Connors and Cornafest Fred, Carla Williamson with Galco, Ciara O’Connor and Agharanny Minstrel, Molly O’Connor and Coolnaleen Rebel and Hannah Willis with Kilnaspic Lily, under the guidance of Jane Kinsella, got the competition off to an excellent start leading the team competition after the dressage phase on a score of 88.3. However, the pressure was on with France chasing on 90.7 and Germany on 93.3.

After dressage, Ben Connors – silver medallist for the last two years – was in second place individually on 27.0, just ahead of teammate Carla Williamson, making her championship debut, on 27.4.

Saturday’s cross-country phase proved incredibly influential with several of the top combinations picking up faults. Unfortunately, one of these combinations was Connors who picked up an early 20 penalties at fence three which cost them a place at the top of the individual leaderboard, dropping to 23rd place after cross-country.

However, all the other team members were clear and Williamson was one of only seven riders to come home inside the time and finished the day in the gold medal position. Molly O’Connor picked up 0.8 of a time penalty to move up to 10th place, while Hannah Willis and Ciara O’Connor also produced brilliant rounds to move up to 15th and 16th places.

That left the team in the bronze medal position ahead of Sunday’s show jumping. Making her championship debut, Co Meath’s Carla Williamson went into the final show jumping phase in pole position following an excellent clear cross-country round. Williamson was one of only seven riders to complete the cross-country inside the optimum time.

An unlucky pole down in the final phase and time penalties meant Williamson finished fourth individually. Germany claimed team gold and completed a whitewash on the individual podium with gold, silver and bronze. France finished second in the team event.

Also making their championships debuts were Co Wicklow’s Ciara O’Connor and the Connemara Pony Agharanny Minstrel, Co Down’s Molly O’Connor and Coolnaleen Rebel (ISH)[TIH], and Co Wexford’s Hannah Willis and Kilnaspic Lily (ISH), who finished in 12th, 15th and 16th respectively.

Sadly for Williamson, eight faults on the final day over the coloured poles saw her slip to fourth place, just 2.8 penalties away from the podium, which was filled by German riders. Nell Röming (Marlon 192) took individual gold ahead of teammates Sina Brügger (Next Generation) and Marlene Hayessen (Betty Boo 14).

Ciara O’Connor was next best of the Irish in 12th place (45.1) with just four faults on the final day with the Castside JJ-sired Connemara Pony stallion Agharanny Minstrel. Molly O’Connor and Hannah Willis finished 15th and 16th, while Connors was 22nd.

That result was good enough to see Ireland hold on to the bronze medal on a final score of 129.2. Germany landed gold on 97.3 while France took bronze on 112.6.

Proud

Kinsella said: “I’m absolutely delighted and very proud that the Irish pony eventing team has won bronze at this year’s European Championships. I fully expected that the competition in Le Mans would be strong and technically challenging and the riders stepped up, pushed each other forward, supported each other and worked incredibly well as a team. It was a fantastic competition from day one, really exciting, and they delivered a great result.

“I would like to express my gratitude to my fantastic coaching team, Caroline Powell (cross-country) and Heather Coyle (show jumping). Team vet Tim O’Hagan and the grooms Rebekah McNally and Jenny McKibbin. I would also like to thank the parents and support teams. Results like these don’t happen without their support, encouragement and guidance.

“Finally, I would like to thank Horse Sport Ireland and Eventing Ireland and our wonderful sponsors Gain Equine Nutrition, and suppliers Bucas, TRM Nutrition, Uvex, Dubarry of Ireland and Berney Bros Saddlery.”