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THE Irish show jumping team lie in fourth place after a strong performance in the opening round of the FEI European Jumping Championships in Milan, Italy, while Co Clare's Eoin McMahon is eighth individually.
Anchor rider at his second European Championships – and one of three riders from the Beerbaum Stable to compete in Milan –Eoin McMahon and the 11-year-old mare Mila (Monte Bellini x Linton) who is owned, and formerly ridden, by his boss Ludger Beerbaum, showed how well they have gelled since McMahon took over the ride. They cleared all the fences in a time of 73.88s seconds to slot into eighth place overnight.
The first speed round of the competition got underway at lunchtime at the venue which experienced plenty of rain over the last 48 hours. However, conditions stayed dry and Italian course designer Uliano Vezzani built a track that caused problems all around, taking out some big name favourites on the opening day.
Quick
First into the arena on the day, Switzerland’s Bryan Balsiger set the target of 74.39 seconds with Dubai du Bois Pinchet and he held that sport for a considerable time, before Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson overtook the lead with Zuccero (73.60).
However, an individual medallist at the last two Europeans, Swiss ace Martin Fuchs showed he is back for more when he stormed into the lead with Leone Jei (72.53 seconds), who won individual silver two years ago at Riesenbeck.
Fuchs’ lead was then overtaken by Sweden’s Jens Fredricson and Markan Cosmopolit (71.98) and at the end of the day that is where he remains. With the result now converted into penalties, Fredricson leads the competition on 0 points, ahead of Fuchs on 0.28.
Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt is in third place with Zineday (0.31), ahead of Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Dynamix de Belheme (0.43). Ireland have two in the top 20; Eoin McMahon (0.95) is joined by Michael Duffy who sits in 19th place on a score of 2.18.
It is Sweden and Switzerland who also lie at the top of the team leaderboards ahead of round one of the Nations Cup at the venue tomorrow (Thursday). Sweden is on a score 1.51, ahead of the Swiss (1.92), while Germany are a bit behind in third on 5.31, chased by Ireland on 6.00.
team manager Michael Blake commented: “We’re exactly where I would have liked to be coming into the day, and I think we’re a bit unlucky not to be closer to the lead. That said, all of our horses and riders are performing well and we’ll be fourth last to jump tomorrow, which hopefully sets us up nicely.
“It was tricky out there, the ground played a big part in the results and you could see with some of the world’s best having poles down that it was a real test. I’m happy with how it played out, though, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
“Eoin was fantastic. We needed a quick, clear round from him and that’s what he gave us."
Irish performances
First into the arena for the Irish team score was Galway’s Michael Duffy aboard the Hibernian Sport Horses-owned 14-year-old mare Cinca (Casall x Carthago). The mare was not the easiest around the track but Duffy navigated it perfectly and she never looked like touching a pole, posting a clear round in 76.34 to sit in 19th place overnight.
Making his championship debut, Tipperary native Trevor Breen was the second line rider for Ireland with the home-bred gelding Highland President (Clinton x Kannan), owned by his mother-in-law Heather Black. The pair showed why they deserved the call-up with a perfect clear round, albeit in a slower time of 80.05 seconds for 35th place.
Shane Sweetnam was next with the sole Irish Sport Horse on the team, the 10-year-old gelding James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising), bred by Patrick Connolly in Co Galway and owned by Gizmo Partners LLC. The favourite going into the championships according to EquiRatings data with a 7% win chance, the pair set off at a good pace and crossed the line with a fast time of 73.72 seconds, but had to add four seconds for a fence down at 10b, completing on 77.72. They lie in 25th place.
In need of a fast round to boost Ireland up the standings, Eoin McMahon knew what was required with Mila and the pair were smooth and slick throughout and, despite taking a pull on the gallop to the final fence, crossed the timers in 73.88 seconds to slot into eighth place.
Individual rider Denis Lynch, riding Parco Sport Horses’ 10-year-old stallion Vistogrand (Fantaland x Mr Visto), was clear all the way in a time of 77.38 seconds to finish the day in 23rd place.
Tomorrow's second round - round one of the team final - begins at 13.15 local time (12.15 Irish time). Just the top 10 teams will progress to Friday's team final.
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