EQUESTRIAN: Ireland's ponies collected double team bronze at the European pony championships in Italy yesterday, making it on to the podium after the finish of the three-day event in the morning and then repeating the feat in the afternoon's show jumping final.
The eventing team of Kate Harrington, Alida O'Connor, Cormac O'Flynn and Ruth Robinson were second overnight after the cross-country, but lost their grip on silver in yesterday's show jumping decider at Pratoni del Vivaro.
Britain took team gold ahead of the Germans, who moved up when the Irish collected 28 faults in the show jumping.
Individual gold went to Germany's Melina Lamp, with just one fence covering the three medallists. Harrington and Ice Cool Bailey had one down for fourth and best of the Irish, but even a clear would not have got them a place on the individual podium.
The show jumpers then claimed the second bronze of the day, finishing behind the Netherlands and Britain. Jessica Burke joined forces with Conor Ligget, Laura Brown and Stephen Duncan for a two-round total of 24 faults.
On the senior show jumping circuit, Jessica Kurten notched up a hat-trick of thirds at the Spanish fixture in La Coruna. Kurten, a surprise withdrawal from next week's Dublin Horse Show, had slotted into third with Castle Forbes Libertina on the opening day of the show, and then repeated the feat twice over the weekend with Laurus.
Kurten steered the nine-year-old to a double clear for third in Saturday evening's Grand Prix Caixa Galicia and was third again in a speed class yesterday.
There was no joy for the Irish in the two big classes at Hickstead, however. Eight faults saw Marie Burke and Cavalier's Choice finish 14th in yesterday's Queen Elizabeth Cup.
A similar tally left Shane Breen one slot lower in the following King George V Gold Cup with World Cruise.
On the home front, Harry Marshall took the honours in the South Co Dublin Super League Grand Prix in Celbridge. Marshall brought out All Shook Up to win out in a tussle for the top with Conor Swail and Nepomuk.
Swail moved up to third in the league standings on 49 points, 10 clear of Marshall in fifth. Both are well behind long-time leader Cian O'Connor's 85 points.
