HORSE SPORT Ireland Finish Seventh in European Team Championships

After a tension-filled two rounds the Irish team finished in seventh place of 17 teams at the European Show Jumping Championships at Windsor, England this afternoon (Friday).

Lying in seventh at the halfway mark, a clear round from Sligo-born Darragh Kerins and 'Night Train' and two four-fault rounds from Cameron Hanley with 'SIEC Livello' and Cian O'Connor and 'Rancorrado'
held the Irish position against stiff opposition on a very strong course that saw only six zero scores achieved by the ten teams who went through to the final round.

Afterwards Irish team manager Robert Splaine said: "This was a fantastic performance from a team that had to be changed several times from my original selection, due to various reasons. It was heartbreaking for the lads to come so close to a medal in a championship such as this after so much effort.

"But I think the result today is proof that we have the rider and horse combinations with the potential of achieving gold. It's vital that we do everything in our power to to keep those combinations intact for the World Equestrian Games at Kentucky next year and the Olympics in 2012 for I do believe we have a real chance at championship success."

Switzerland took the Gold Medal at Windsor today, with Italy in Silver Medal position and Germany winning the Bronze Medal.

Showjumping Results: CH-EU-D/S European Jumping and Dressage Championships
Windor Castle, Great Britain August 25-30, 2009

European Nations Cup - Two Rounds 1m60
Friday August 27, 2009

• 1 SWITZERLAND 27.66 penalties
• 2 ITALY 31 penalties
• 3 GERMANY 31.75 penalties
• 4 NETHERLANDS 32.96 penalties
• 5 FRANCE 33.71 penalties
• 6 GT. BRITAIN 35.26 penalties
• 7 IRELAND 35.86 penalties
  Thomas Ryan; Urleven van de Helle 16/12, Cameron Hanley; SIEC Livello 5/4, Cian O'Connor; Rancorrado 9/4, Darragh Kerins; Night Train 8/0
• 8 SWEDEN 45.62 penalties
• 9 NORWAY 64.66 penalties
• 10 AUSTRIA 71.25 penalties

17 nations competed