SLIGO’s Paddy Reape is Ireland’s newest European Champion after jumping five clear rounds at the FEI Pony European Championships in Le Mans, France, last weekend to claim individual gold, as well as team gold earlier in the week.

The 16-year-old was also part of the winning team in 2022 but, on that occasion, the individual competition did not go his way, so this win aboard his father Joanthan’s Fernando, was extra special. The 13-year-old grey gelding by Mr Pretender out of Castleside Topaz (Clonmany JJ) was bred by Sean Judge, local to the Reape family’s Ard Chuain Equestrian Centre.

Speaking to The Irish Field on Tuesday, just after landing home from the trip, Jonathan Reape said how proud he was of his son. “It’s absolutely amazing and a very different feeling to winning team gold last year because, individually, the Europeans didn’t go well for him last year so he felt he had a point to prove. We went away and regrouped this year and they were just brilliant.”

The horse joined the Reape family in early 2022 and was not actually meant for Paddy. “He was actually bred by our neighbour Sean Judge out of a local stallion and was sold on before being produced by Ella Clancy up to Grand Prix level. Friends of ours in Antrim bought him after that and they had him for two years before I bought him when their daughter [Emily Steele] was finished,” Jonathan explained.

“I actually bought the pony for Senan [Paddy’s year younger brother] because at the time he had no 14.2 and Paddy had plenty. Paddy brought him to a show in Peelbergen and they went really well and he didn’t give him back so I had to go and get a new pony for Senan! In fairness to him, he gave up his opportunity to let Paddy ride him, and we were very disappointed Senan didn’t get there himself this year with his pony, he was the reserve and had a great year.”

Talking about the week, Reape added: “You never know what to expect, the biggest thing is to try and have the pony and rider in a good place, fresh and feeling good. You are thinking the first day to just jump a nice clear round and then the real target is the Nations Cup, you are not thinking any further than that.

“We knew Ireland were very strong, you knew you had good team mates with you so that was the first priority, we weren’t focusing on the individuals yet. After the Nations Cup, the lads had three clears and were in a good position for medals. In the fourth round, Paddy made a little mistake, even though it was a good clear round, so then going into the last round it was even harder when in pole position. He had to jump clear and, to me, that was his best round of the competition.”

Jonathan does all the training himself, not always plain sailing he said, with a laugh. Did Paddy get nervous? “At that, there is no doubt he is nervous but the re-occurring thing we always say it is another round of jumping, don’t do anything different.

“It’s a dream come true, I’ve always been involved in pony sport myself, I sold a lot of ponies over the years that jumped championships, I’ve gone to a lot championships and it is special now to have my own kids jumping and winning medals.”

Paddy Reape (gold, middle), Sweden's Ellen Hammarström (silver, left) and Kian Dore (bronze) \ Libby Law Photography

Bronze

On four faults, Kian Dore was in the three-way jump-off for silver and bronze and eventually finished in the bronze medal position with Sparkling Lackaghmore Joey, while the silver went to Sweden’s Ellen Hammarström riding Ocean Des As.

James Derwin was leading at the start of the final day but was unlucky to end his clear round streak with his defending champion, Rincoola Babog, bred by the late Harold McGahern, in the first round of the final, eventually finishing in fifth place on eight faults.

Alongside him on the same score of eight was Emily Moloney with Lady Crown who jumped a four and clear on the final day, while Abbie Oakey added four and eight faults on the final day to her total for the week, leaving her in 14th place.