Merveldt fifth in Germany

IRISH Olympic dressage rider Anna Merveldt and the 10-year-old Lusitano gelding Esporim scored 68.087% to place fifth in the Grand Prix class at the four-star show in Munich, Germany yesterday (Friday). Germany’s Frederic Wandres and Westminster the class on a score of 73.022% with Nicolas Wagner and Quater Back Junior FRH placing second for Luxembourg on a 72.413% total. Merveldt and Esporim were members of the Irish team that qualified for the Olympic Games at the FEI European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, last August.