CO Clare 13-year-old Rhys Williams has won an individual gold medal at the FEI European Championships in Fontainebleau, France, this morning.
Riding John and Marie Burke's CES Cruson, an 11-year-old gelding by Chippison, Williams was clear in the final round of jumping to be the only rider to finish on a score of zero and take the gold medal.
German riders filled the two remaining places on the podium, with Chiara Reyer taking silver and Henry Munsberg the bronze.
Irish youth team manager James Kernan was hugely impressed with the composure shown by Rhys Williams in a tense final round and said: “Rhys showed nerves of steel. It was an exceptional performance from him all week. He rode according to his plan and it was an exhibition of jumping from him and his horse. Rhys really is a star for the future. It has been an incredible week and again I want to thank all involved in helping us deliver these results.”
This is the second European medal this week for Williams, as he was a member of the silver medal-winning team on Wednesday with teammates Sarah Fitzgerald, Lucy Morton, Ciaran Foley and Isobel Hughes Kennedy.
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