Show Jumping - Top 12 Results For Ireland At European Championships

Ireland's Jonathan Gordon finished in sixth place today in the Individual Young Riders European Championships at Arezzo in Italy.

Gordon, riding Bario van't Martendonkerf, completed the two phases of the competition on a total of 11.24 penalties, rising three places in the second phase with two clear rounds and one time fault. Gold went to Sweden's Irma Karlsson, with Silver being claimed by Germany's Kaya Lüthi and Bronze by Germany's Laura Klaphake.

Seventh place in the Individual Junior championships went to Ireland's Noelle Barry and the Irish Sport Horse Norway Venture, two double clears giving her a total of 9.81 penalties. Gold in the Juniors was won by Norway's Amalie Hegre, with the Silver medal taken by Belgium's Gilles Thomas and the Bronze going to Britain's Jessica Mendoza.

Emelie Larkin and another Irish Sport Horse, Flexing, took joint 12th place in the Children on Horses individual championships on a score of 5.00 in a closely fought final that saw zero scores from Britain's Robert Murphy (Gold), Italy's Lorenzo Sciacca (Silver) and France's Elisa Mellec, with the medal placings being decided by a jump-off.

Irish Chef d'Equipe at the Championships, Comdt. John Ledingham, said tonight: "The 2014 European Children, Junior and Young Rider Show Jumping championships have just concluded, with 30 nations represented by 350 riders; 20 teams in Juniors and Children and 16 in Young Riders.

"I would like to congratulate all the Irish riders on their championships. A great effort goes into competing at a European championships regardless of result and the riders are to be congratulated on their contributions.

"I am particularly proud of Jonathan Gordon with Bario van't Martendonkerf, sixth in the individual Young Rider championship; Noelle Barry, seventh in the Juniors with double clears in the Nations Cup and double clears in the individual final on Norway Venture, and Emelie Larkin and Flexing, 12th in Children on Horses.

"Thanks to everyone who supported their efforts, well done to all."