Paddy jumps for joy as Ireland win gold

Local showjumper Paddy Reape was part of a magnificent victory for Ireland at the FEI Jumping European Championships in Riesenbeck last Thursday. The Corballa teenager was an integral member of the Irish junior team who closed out the competition in style at the German venue, taking the gold medal on a final score of 6.99.

Reape, whose family run Ard Chuain Equestrian Centre near Ballina, was joined by Alice Wachman, Tabitha Kyle, Jack Kent and Emily Moloney in a team managed by Denis Flannelly. The Sligo youngster and his fellow riders produced a stunning display and proved much too strong for Europe’s best after three fantastic days of jumping.

The team were well placed in fifth position of 22 competing nations after Tuesday’s first round. A dominant display on Wednesday saw them shoot into a clear lead, and Thursday afternoon was all about consolidation as the chasing pack attempted to apply pressure.

First to jump was Paddy Reape and Mr Rocky Blue, bred in Co. Down by George McCullogh, and they were unfortunate at the wall for four faults. Reape, a student at Jesus and Mary Secondary School in Enniscrone, kept his composure under pressure, however, and came home with just that blemish which would keep Ireland in the lead regardless.

Next into the arena was Tabitha Kyle and BP Goodfellas, and they did what they had done all week, delivering a flawless round of jumping. It meant that a clear round from Alice Wachman would secure the gold medal for Ireland, with closest pursuers The Netherlands more than a fence behind.

Cool as ice, Wachman and Killarney were foot perfect, delivering the all-important clear to bring home the first gold medal of the week and spark jubilant scenes.

Moloney, Ireland’s anchor, put the seal on the victory with yet another clear round.

The Netherlands finished in second place on a score of 12.79, with Belgium finishing third on 20.60.

Denis Flannelly said: “I'm absolutely thrilled with the performances of these athletes and their horses this week and delighted that they have won gold. It's not just them I'm proud of, though. I'm so proud of their coaches, their team around them both here and at home, and the families who support them in every respect on this journey to help them achieve this today.

“Every one of them has jumped their heart out all week and to bring home a gold medal is testament to work put in by these riders, as well as all of the riders who have jumped on Nations Cups this year and helped push us all to the highest level.” The Irish had gone from the hunters to the hunted after Wednesday’s scintillating performance, but that was the position Flannelly had hoped to be in going into the final class.

“Things had gone mostly according to the plans we set out from early – the guys delivered on Tuesday to put us in position to really make a move yesterday and they showed tremendous character under pressure to get us into first position and give us the opportunity to seal the win this afternoon.

“We knew today would be all about keeping the rest at bay after giving ourselves that lead going into the final round and I'm delighted with how they dealt with it and obviously I'm very happy that we sealed the deal.”