A BRILLIANT performance from Co Clare's Eoin McMahon and the 12-year-old mare Mila saw them secure a top 10 finish today (Sunday) in the individual final at the FEI Jumping European Championships in Milan, Italy where the gold medal went to Switzerland's Steve Guerdat.
McMahon started the day in 14th place and just a fence down in each of the two rounds of the final saw him climb five places to ninth overall. It is his second consecutive top 10 finish at a European Championships following eighth place in Riesenbeck, Germany two years ago.
Eoin McMahon and Milan finished ninth at the FEI European Championships in Milan, Italy\ Tomas Holcbecher
Galway's Michael Duffy started the day in the bronze medal position with the 14-year-old mare Cinca 3 but had two fences down in the first round of the final and decided not to jump in the final round to finish in 12th place overall.
Cork's Shane Sweetnam and CSF James Kann Cruz (ISH), bred in Co Galway by Patrick Connolly, finished in 13th place with two fences – both in the combination - down, while Tipperary's Denis Lynch also finished with two down in 20th palce with Vistogrand.
Gold for Guerdat
Steve Guerdat and the 10-year-old mare Dynamix de Belheme are the new European Champions, taking the gold medal on a score of 0.43 and were the only combination to jump clear over five rounds of jumping.
It is the lowest finishing score in the history of the competition and Guerdat’s first ever individual European medal at his ninth European Championships.
“I never had an individual medal at the European, I am trying a long time!” Guerdat said afterwards.
“I brought the horse of a lifetime, Dynamix, I believe so strongly in her. She is with us since she was five years old. She was amazing and it feels incredible to be the new European champion.”
Germany's Philipp Weishaupt and Zineday, the only nine-year-old to make it through to the individual final, collected the silver on 4.31 while French rider Julien Epaillard and Dubai du Cedre took the bronze on 4.61.
Friday saw the Irish team of Micheal Duffy, Eoin McMahon, Trevor Breen and Shane Sweetnam win the silver medal behind Sweden in gold while Austria took bronze.
FULL COVERAGE FROM THE FEI EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NEXT SATURDAY’S PAPER.