In the Grade I Freestyle Individual Championship at the ECCO FEI World Para Dressage Championships at Herning in Denmark Murphy and Cleverboy achieved a second podium finish this week.

A score of 78.387% in Sunday’s Freestyle To Music Grand Prix with the 15-year-old gelding Cleverboy saw them claim a second bronze medal of the Championships.

Italy’s Sara Morganti took the gold medal with a score of 80.653 %, while silver went to Latvia’s Rihards Snikus on a score of 78.400%.

Horse Sport Ireland Para Dressage High Performance Director, Debora Pijpers said:

“I am very proud of how all four Irish Para Dressage combinations presented themselves this World Championships. Highlights were absolutely Michael Murphy and Cleverboy obtaining a historical bronze medal in the individual competition and a bronze medal again in the Freestyle (Grade I), with a gap of 0,013% separating them from a silver medal.

“The aim for the team result was to achieve a top 12 position, so I’m very pleased with the 9th position and the promising scores (76,072%, 69,824%, 67,975%) that contributed to this. I feel that each rider as an individual but also our team has grown from all valuable experiences in Tokyo last year. We are very happy with the results now and we are motivated and inspired to develop and improve our team further!”

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Speaking after the prize giving Michael Murphy said:

“He’s an amazing horse to go from competing at Grand Prix level dressage to a walk test takes a special horse and he is, he’s amazing! He took it all in his stride and I want to thank my trainer Elder Klatzko for getting me here and for getting Cleverboy here looking and feeling so well and to his owner Bronte Watson”

The Para-Dressage High Performance Director, Debora Pijpers said:

“Today was an exciting and very good first day of competition here at the World Championships. Michael Murphy rode a very active and sparkling test and really showed the quality of his Cleverboy. With a score of 74,143% he won a historical bronze medal for Ireland in Grade I. I’m very proud of Michael and Cleverboy and his support team. They all showed true sportsmanship and have given it their very best. I want to sincerely thank Sport Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland, Para Equestrian Ireland, and Paralympics Ireland for all their support!”

Horse Sport Ireland Chief Executive, Denis Duggan, said:

“This was an outstanding performance from Michael and Cleverboy against the very best in the world. Huge congratulations to Michael, Sue, Debora and the entire team here in Herning. It has been a hugely successful few weeks for HSI’s High Performance teams on the back of last weekend’s team gold medals in Pony Showjumping and Eventing. Today was the first day of the Para dressage and Showjumping competitions here at the World Championships and I would like to wish all competitors the very best of luck in the coming days.”

Michael Murphy and Cleverboy represented Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 where they achieved 4^th position, Michael has also represented Ireland at many international events including the Para Dressage European Championships in 2019.

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