Moloney strikes gold at the double at Youth European Show Jumping Championships

Phenomenal medal-winning performances from two Kilkenny riders were among the highlights as Ireland impressed at the FEI European Show Jumping Championships for Youth athletes in Germany.

Emily Moloney (two gold) and Tim Brennan (silver) were part of the success story as the Irish dominated in Riesnbeck.

The Irish under-18 (junior) team of Kilkenny’s Emily Moloney (Temple Alice (ISH), Tipperary’s Tabitha Kyle (BP Goodfellas (ISH) Tipperary’s Alice Wachman (Killarney), along with Sligo’s Paddy Reape (Mr Rocky Blue (ISH), secured the gold medal in their team competition on Thursday.

Ireland, managed by Denis Flannelly, were flawless in the qualifiers and team final, finishing on a final score of 6.99 to be crowned the new European under-18 champions. The Netherlands claimed silver on 12.79 while Belgium grabbed the bronze medal on 20.60.

Ireland’s domination at the Championships continued on Saturday, when Moloney won the under-18 individual gold medal and Kyle claimed under-18 individual silver, adding to their team gold medals.

It was an outstanding display from the two Irish teenagers who both were riding Irish-bred horses.

Riding the Susan McDonald-bred Temple Alice (ISH), Emily, whose family run Top Flight Equestrian Centre just outside Kilkenny City, started the day in the silver medal position.

Two clear rounds from the Kilkenny athlete put the pressure on Swiss rider Laura Andre who was in the lead heading into the final round. The Swiss athlete would lower two fences in the final round and that left Moloney as the new European individual champion.

Kyle had been in eighth place starting the final day, with two flawless clears propelling her all the way into the silver medal position at the finish, while the bronze went to Sweden’s Liam Nilsson with Ulla Bella Hastak. Alice Wachman and Killarney finished just outside the top 10 in 11th position, while the fourth member of the gold medal winning Irish team from Thursday, Sligo’s Paddy Reape, finished in 25th place overall.

Less than 24 hours after the Irish under-18 team won the gold medal, the Irish under-21 team claimed the Silver medal at the Championships with another brilliant performance.

The Irish young riders started the day in the gold medal position on a score of 4,61 after a flawless display on Thursday. Tom Wachman and Obora’s Laura gave Ireland the perfect start with a clear as first to go for Michael Blake’s team in the final round.

Clare’s Coen Williams and Floris R Z kept all the fences standing as second to jump, but picked up three time penalties which would prove crucial at the finish. Kilkenny’s Tim Brennan and Diadema della Caccia finished with four faults, before Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy and BP Rocket Man (ISH), bred in Thurles by Austin Broderick, jumped clear as last to go. That left Ireland as silver medal winners on a final score of 7.61 and when Belgium completed the final round with three clears. They would take the gold medal with a score of 5.72, while Britain secured bronze on 24.05.

The under-21 individual final saw Tipperary’s Tom Wachman with Obora’s Laura finish best of the Irish riders in fifth. Kilkenny’s Tim Brennan, with Diadema della Caccia, would take eighth place, while Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy and BP Rocket Man (ISH) finished 12th.

“What a week it has been for Irish horses and riders at these European Youth Championships,” said Irish Horse Board Director General Alison Corbally. “To come home with team gold and individual silver in the Junior competition, along with team silver for the Young Riders, is a phenomenal result. On behalf of the Irish Horse Board, I congratulate all of the riders, their parents, coaches, and those who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

“It has is also another fantastic Championship for Irish breeders,” she added, “with so many of the medal winning horses being bred in Ireland.”