Michael Blake’s team of Michael Duffy, Trevor Breen, Shane Sweetnam and Eoin McMahon headed into the team final with less than a time fault separating the top four nations.

Germany held the lead following the first two days of jumping on a score of 9.31, Sweden were second on 9.51 and Switzerland next on 9.92. The Irish team was just outside of the top three on 10.00 with over a fence in hand ahead of Austria in fifth place.

Clear for Michael Duffy and Cinca 3

Galway’s Michael Duffy was first into the arena for Ireland, riding the 14-year-old grey mare Cinca 3. This combination had jumped two clear rounds on Wednesday and Thursday.

This excellent form continued as they again went clear to give Ireland a brilliant start.

Germany’s first line rider Marcus Ehning withdrew from competition, while the final fence fell for Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann. A clear round from Steve Guerdat got Switzerland off to a strong start.

Trevor Breen and Highland President

Trevor Breen was next in for Ireland with Highland President. The Tipperary rider and the 11-year-old gelding were unlucky to roll the final part of the combination, but the result was enough to help move Ireland up to third spot overall.

At the half way stage Ireland were in bronze medal position as Germany dropped to fourth following a fence down for Philipp Weishaupt.

Sweden moved to top spot with a clear from Wilma Hellström, while Switzerland held second though they had two fences down from Bryan Balsiger.

Four faults for Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz were unlucky to add four faults as Sweden extended their lead with a Jens Fredricson clear.

Despite the four faults from Sweetnam, Ireland actually moved into the silver medal position on a score of 14. Switzerland’s third rider, Edouard Schmitz, had three fences down, forcing them to count Balsiger’s eight faults and putting the Swiss on a team score of 17.92.

Ireland move into silver medal position

Tipperary’s Eoin McMahon and the 11-year-old grey mare Mila had one fence down, leaving Ireland on 18 faults in third place.

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs needed to jump clear to hold onto the silver medal, but eight faults from the Swiss saw Michael Blake’s Ireland side move up to second.

Sweden claimed the gold medal and European title on a team score of 9.51, with three of their four riders jumping clear. Ireland took silver with Austria third, ahead of Germany in fourth and Spain in fifth.

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The Horse Sport Ireland CCI4*-L will be a selection trial for the FEI World Eventing Championships in Italy in September and features top riders from Ireland, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand. The recent Badminton winner and Tokyo 2020 team gold medallist, Britain’s Laura Collett, riding Dacapo, heads a competitive field.

England-based New Zealanders Tim and Jonelle Price bring Coup De Coeur and Happy Boy (Tim) and Kilbunny Andy (Jonelle). They are joined by New Zealand-based Clarke Johnston (Menlo Park and Leopard’ss Action) and Virginia Thompson (Capitaine De Hus Z and Gladstone) as well as Samantha Lissington (Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ).

The Australians won team silver at the Tokyo Olympic Games and team member Kevin McNab (Willunga) will be one to watch. He is joined by US-based Clayton Fredericks, a world silver medallist in 2006, on FE Coldplay and Bill Levett (Sligo Candy Cane).

Ireland well represented

Ireland are the reigning world silver medallists and will be well represented by Cathal Daniels, a member that 2018 team and the individual European bronze medallist in 2019, riding CDS Cairnview Romulo. Louise Bloomer (Hollybrook Hotshot), Elizabeth Power (Senza Fine) and Alison Holden (O My Balladeer) will also compete for the home side.

The Connolly’s RED MILLS CCI4*-S is a predominantly Irish affair, but there will be a big challenge from Jonelle Price on her 2018 Luhmuhlen five-star winner Faerie Dianimo.

“It’s great to be seeing so many big names from overseas returning to Millstreet,”’ said event director Thomas Duggan. “There’s always a great Irish welcome and a fun atmosphere, and course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith and all the team have been working hard to produce the usual excellent educational competitions for the star horses of the future.”

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