A fantastic performance from the GAIN Irish U18 (Junior) Show Jumping team has seen them take the bronze medal today (Friday) at the European Youth Championships which are taking place at Zuidwolde in The Netherlands.
Less than one fence separated the top three teams at the finish, with the Irish quartet of Wexford’s Harry Allen (Dancing Queen Z), Athlone’s Kate Derwin (AHG Whiterock Cruise Down (ISH), Kilkenny’s Jack Ryan (Essenar High Hopes) and Mayo’s Ciaran Nallon (Cloe GP Z), managed by James Kernan, taking the bronze medal with Spain clinching gold while Germany took silver.
A delighted Irish Youth Show Jumping team manager James Kernan commented:
“I am so proud of our team. They really had to dig deep in what was a very tough competition which lasted nine hours today alone. I have to say the course builder did a fantastic job. He had you thinking from the first fence to the last and you had to focus on the time allowed also. I want to thank all our sponsors for their support and all the parents and coaches who helped make this happen and of course to thank Horse Sport Ireland also for their fantastic support.”
Horse Sport Ireland CEO Ronan Murphy added:
“I want to congratulate James Kernan and our GAIN Junior team members Harry Allen, Kate Derwin, Jack Ryan and Ciaran Nallon, along with Seamus Hughes-Kennedy who was also an important part of the squad, on a fantastic achievement in winning a European Championship bronze medal today. To finish among the medals in a competition that attracted the top riders from 21 European teams is another boost for the Horse Sport Ireland High Performance programme which continues to produce excellent results. I have to thank all our loyal sponsors and the parents, coaches and all those working behind the scenes who contributed to this result.”
Three members of today’s team, Harry Allen, Jack Ryan and Kate Derwin. were part of the GAIN Irish Junior team which also won European bronze in 2018. The European Youth Show Jumping Championships continues over the weekend with the remaining team and individual medals still to be decided, while the Irish Eventing U21 and U18 teams are also in European Championship action at Maarsbergen in The Netherlands.
