Ireland has a new world champion in student rider Brian Morrison, who claimed gold at the World University Equestrian Federation Finals at Palm Beach in Florida last week.
Riders competing at this event are some of the best from around the world, with backgrounds in eventing, dressage and show jumping. There are two league competitions at the event – gold and silver – with nations competing to gain a place in the coveted gold league.
Countries competing this year included Ireland, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, the US, France, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada.
The Irish team was made up of Brian Morrison, James Brennan and Peter O’Donnell (the 2013 champion). Morrison claimed the world champion title for 2014 by winning in dressage and coming fourth in the show jumping competitions.
James Brennan (currently based in Wellington, Florida, with Darragh Kenny) won in the show jumping competition and came 13th in the dressage to finish fourth overall in the combined category.
The Irish team won silver in the overall combined event with gold going to Britain.
Irish rider Tori Dixon placed second on a mixed international team in the silver league and Gary Flynn won the overall combined event in the silver league.
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