A stunning weekend for Irish equestrian sport reached a dramatic finale at the European Championships at Kaposvár in Hungary on Sunday, when Wexford’s Harry Allen claimed the pony show jumping individual gold medal, while Athlone’s Kate Derwin also won the silver medal for Ireland.

A remarkable performance from 16-year-old Harry Allen and the 15-year-old mare Cassandra van het Roelhof, saw them finish five rounds of demanding jumping with just a single time fault. Allen entered the final round tied with Britain’s Eleanor Hall-McAteer with Tixylix on a zero score.

Allen jumped first and finished with just a time fault which guaranteed him a medal but he had to wait until the final rider jumped to see what colour it would be.

Last to go, Eleanor Hall McAteer finished with eight faults which meant Harry Allen was crowned the new European pony show jumping champion. The result comes seven years after Harry’s brother Bertram Allen also won individual European pony gold, at Bishop Burton in the UK riding Acapella.

An outstanding clear final round from Derwin and the Clive Swindell-owned Connemara Pony, Cul Ban Mistress, saw them add to Ireland’s medal haul, as they secured the individual silver. Derwin finished with just four faults over the five rounds of jumping. The 15-year-old completed a remarkable day by singing the Irish national anthem on the podium as she and Harry Allen collected their medals. Sweden’s Cora Hirn took the bronze medal with Miskaun Harvey.

TEAM GOLD

The Gain Irish pony show jumping team of Harry Allen, Kate Derwin, Abbie Sweetnam and Ciaran Nallon, led by team manager Gary Marshall, had earlier collected the European pony jumping team gold medal on Friday last.

A delighted Irish pony show jumping team manager Gary Marshall said: “This was a historic result for us here this week.

“These kids rode out of their skin. I have never seen such a focused bunch of riders. I told them before today’s final that they have their team medals in the bag, they are the European champions and to go into the ring and ride like champions. That’s exactly what they did.”

EVENTING BRONZE

The Gain Irish pony eventing team were also in action and they won the team bronze, after a brilliant performance over all three phases of competition.

The Becky Cullen managed team of Zara Nelson with Millridge Buachaill Bui (ISH), Hannah Adams Myshall with Rodge (CP), and Isabelle Comerford with Colour Me Fancy (ISH) – who are all from Co Kildare, along with Laois’s Jennifer Kuehnle and Fernhill Timbacktoo, finished on a total of 170.20 after all three phases.

Ireland finished 15 penalties ahead of Netherlands in fourth, with Germany fifth, Italy sixth and Belgium seventh. France took home the gold on a score of 141.60, with Britain taking Silver on 152.40.

Zara Nelson finished best of the Irish individually in ninth place with Millridge Buachaill Bui.

Irish pony eventing team manager Becky Cullen said: “We are all delighted, our riders were brilliant. We were a bit off the pace after dressage and to be honest I was delighted to see that the cross country was tough as that suited our team. I think our riders put in some of the best Cross Country rounds of any of the teams.

“Jennifer Kuehnle was unlucky. Her pony stood in a hole in the water and tripped. She was brilliant in the final jumping, supporting the other riders. They kept it together in the final jumping phase and were under pressure when down to just three riders and no discard score.

“It really was a combined effort from Team Ireland Equestrian.”