Fitzpatrick Adds Individual Gold to Ireland’s Show Jumping European Pony Medal Haul
FOURTEEN year-old Susan Fitzpatrick from Kilkenny added to Ireland’s haul of medals at the European Pony Championships when collecting the Individual Show Jumping Gold at Arezzo, Italy this evening (Sunday).
Riding Barbara O’Reilly-Hyland’s Rock Dee Jay, Fitzpatrick went into the final round carrying four faults, but a steady head left her without further penalties, and no other rider of the 29 international finalists was able to equal her score.
Fitzpatrick and Rock Dee Jay were one of three combinations with four faults going into the final, while France’s Ninon Castex seemed assured of the Gold, carrying only a single time fault.
However, the French rider’s impulsion faltered in the middle of the triple combination jump and a refusal by her pony Quabar des Monceaux left her with nine faults on her card, relegating France to seventh place overall.
Britain’s Millie Allen collected an extra four faults with Song Girl in the final round, leaving her in Silver medal position, while Denmark’s Jessica Toelstang and Nikolina also faltered during the last round, a pole on the ground earning her Bronze.
Note from Horse Sport Ireland
Category: International, News, Show Jumping
