THE GAIN Irish pony show jumping team of Kate Derwin (Cul Ban Mistress (CP)), Harry Allen (Cassandra van het Roelhof), Ciaran Nallon (Rexter d’Or) and Abbie Sweetnam (Dynamite Spartacus (ISH)) won a team gold medal at the FEI European Championships for Ponies at Kaposvar, Hungary, yesterday evening.

Under the guidance of chef d’equipe Gary Marshall, the team finished on a total of four faults after three tough rounds of jumping. Britain were runners-up on eight faults with The Netherlands securing the bronze on ten faults.

At the same venue the Irish pony eventing team lie in bronze medal position overnight following yesterday’s (Friday) cross-country phase.

The team of Zara Nelson (Millridge Buachaill Bui (ISH)), Hannah Adams (Myshall Rodge (CP)), and Isabelle Comerford (Colour Me Fancy (ISH)), lie on a combined score of 154.20, less than two penalty points behind Britain in silver medal position. France are the current leaders on a score of 132.60.

Sadly, Ireland’s fourth team member Jennifer Kuehnle was eliminated after a fall across the country with Fernhill Timbacktoo, however both horse and rider walked away.

Kildare’s Zara Nelson is the highest-placed Irish rider individually in 11th place, less than two fences off the medal positions.

The final show jumping phase takes place today (Saturday) when Becky Cullen’s now three-rider squad will aim to hold on to their place on the podium.

Lennon win

Meanwhile, at the four-star show in Samorin, Slovakia, Co Down’s Dermott Lennon guided the Irish Sport Horse Loughview Lou Lou (Limmerick x Jack Of Diamonds) to victory in Thursday’s 1.50m speed class.

The 15-year-old mare, who is owned by Judith Sossick, broke the beam in 64.20 seconds to secure the win and €8,000 in prize money.

Derry’s Daniel Coyle scored a win on Friday morning in the 1.45m Bunn Leisure International Stakes with Sue Grange’s at Simba De La Roque at Hickstead’s five-star Nations Cup show.