Tipperary rider wins European bronze at FEI Jumping Championships for Ponies
Charlie Flynn from Nenagh took third place in Le Mans
Ireland has a new European champion after Cian McMunn led home a one-three in green jackets at the FEI Jumping Championships for Ponies in Le Mans with Esperando SK.
Sligo's McMunn took gold and Tipperary's Charlie Flynn, from Nenagh, won the bronze medal with HK Zena on a hugely dramatic afternoon in Le Mans, which saw four riders in a jump-off for the three medals.
After five thrilling days of top-class jumping in which Ireland secured a team silver after being pipped in a jump-off by the British, it all came down to the final four combinations to decide who would win gold, silver and bronze.
McMunn and Daisy Breen, who is the daughter of Irish senior star Shane Breen, were the only two to remain clear since Wednesday, and it came down to speed and precision here to decide the champion.
McMunn was first to jump and was flawless on Esperando SK in a time of 39.25, meaning Breen would need to be quick and clear. When she dropped a pole halfway through her round, it meant McMunn was European Pony Champion.
Before that, Flynn and Sophia Rogers, themselves the only two riders to only have four faults for the week, went head-to-head to decide the bronze medal.
Flynn was first of the four back into the arena with HK Zena and he went out hard, jumping clear in a time of 38.76 seconds and really put it up to his competitor.
Rogers, with pressure on, had no option but to follow Flynn’s lead and go out with pace in abundance. She flew home to the last but couldn’t match the Irish teen’s time and finished clear in 39.41 seconds, meaning Flynn was bronze medallist.