FOUR first-time championship riders lined out for Ireland at the FEI European Jumping Championships in Riesenbeck in September and they showed their class when finishing fifth in a superb field, where a bit of luck here and there might have seen them win a medal as they were in touch come the final day, while two Irish riders also finished in the top 10.

German legend Ludger Beerbaum stepped up at the end of 2020 and took on the challenge of hosting the Europeans at his top-class venue in an unprecedented year where we also had an Olympic Games.