SWITZERLAND are the European Champions after a tantalising team final at the Longines FEI European Jumping Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany, where the Irish quartet, all making their championship debut, finished fifth.

Switzerland won on a final score of 9.47, ahead of the home nation of Germany who took the silver medal on 12.77. Belgium, who won team gold two years ago in Rotterdam, won the bronze here on 17.34. They were the star team of the final day, producing an incredible four clear rounds, the only team to do so, adding nothing to their score from Thursday’s round.

Tokyo Olympic gold medallists Sweden slipped to fourth (27.59), ahead of Michael Blake’s team of Daniel Coyle, Michael Duffy, Eoin McMahon and Mark McAuley, who finished on 28.73.

Speaking to The Irish Field after the competition, Duffy, who was clear in the final with Zilton SL Z, said: “I was a bit disappointed yesterday but today was a true reflection of the horse. For a young team, we certainly didn’t embarrass ourselves and with the rub of the green, we might have gotten a medal. If there was one more day, I think we would have gotten a medal!”

German legend Ludger Beerbaum only got the go ahead to hold this championship at his venue in November and everyone agreed it was spectacular. There was big praise from the riders and grooms on the conditions, which included over 300 brand new permanent stables.

Frank Rothenberger’s course for the team final had 13 big fences. The most trouble came down the final line, however, it was jumpable and a total of 13 managed to come home clear. Ireland went into the team final in fifth place on a score of 20.73, just 9.14 penalties off the podium.

Derry’s Daniel Coyle was first to go with the 11-year-old mare Legacy (Chippendale Z x Bon Ami), owned by Ariel Grange. In 12th place individually, they hadn’t touched a pole over the first two days and were most unlucky to knock the wavy plank at fence 11 when leaving a toe on it.

Faultless

The competition started to hot up as the second line riders entered the arena. Michael Duffy was disappointed with eight faults on Thursday aboard HMF Equestrian and Katherine Duffy’s Zilton SL Z (Zirocco Blue VDL x Indoctro), but the pair bounced back in spectacular fashion in Friday’s final. The 10-year-old gelding was foot perfect to keep Ireland in the hunt.

Michael Duffy and Zilton SL Z jumping clear in the final team round at the Longines FEI Europeans Championships in Riesenbeck \ Tomas Holcbecher

At the top of the table, Belgium moved up to the bronze medal position with clears from Pieter Devos and Jos Verloy, while Sweden dropped down to fourth when both Douglas Lindelöw and Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli finished with eight faults. The first two Germans, Andre Thieme and Marcus Ehning, were flawless to keep the pressure on the leaders Switzerland who stayed on top when Bryan Balsiger produced a vital clear.

There was heartbreak for Ireland when Eoin McMahon and Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s 15-year-old gelding Chacon 2 (Chacco-Blue x Aventyno) had the very last fence down.

Olivier Philippaerts secured a podium place for Belgium with a clear round aboard Le Blue Diamond v’t Ruytershof. Eight faults for Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (Ermindo W) saw Sweden out of medal contention, before German’s Christian Kukuk (Mumbai) finished with four faults to give Switzerland a little bit of breathing room in the battle for gold.

Not that the defending champion, Martin Fuchs, needed any breathing space as he produced another brilliant clear with the nine-year-old gelding Leone Jei to keep Switzerland in front and hold on to his individual lead (1.31) ahead of Sunday’s final.

Ireland’s anchor rider Mark McAuley finished with eight faults, as he did the previous day, aboard Scea la Tuiliere’s 12-year-old gelding Jasco vd Bisschop (Dulf van den Bisschop x Krunch de Breve). They knocked fence four and 12a on the last line.

Germany’s David Will had one fence down to secure at least silver, giving Switzerland a fence in hand. Last to go, Steve Guerdat needed that fence when 10-year-old Albfuehren’s Maddox knocked fence nine. He then had to hold his cool for the last line and duly delivered to secure the gold medal for his team.

“I am very proud of the whole team. We had a down in Tokyo but we came back strong and I am very proud of the team,” said Steve Guerdat, who dedicated the victory to his late mare Bianca.

Irish chef d'equipe Michael Blake said: "Overall I am very pleased with all our riders. Obviously we would have liked to finish a bit higher but we were only one fault off fourth in the end. We made a conscious decision to give some of our younger riders this opportunity at Championship level as we are going to need them for the future and all-in-all I think it was a very solid performance."

Three of the four Irish riders made it through to the individual final.

Daniel Coyle is lying in 12th Eoin McMahon is in 19th and Michael Duffy in 20th. The final takes place at 1pm (Irish time) on Sunday.