A DONEGAL MAN heled Ireland claim gold at the European Under-21 Showjumping Championships.
Gavin Harley from Rathdonnell in Letterkenny helped Ireland to claim their first-ever top place finish at the Championships in Millstreet, County Cork from last Wednesday to Sunday last.
Harley rode the 12 year old stallion Understone van de Kapel in the competition. The team consisted of Harley, Mayo man Michael Duffy, Dubliner Matt Garigan and Max O’Reilly-Hyland from Wicklow.
They completed the two rounds of the nations cup on a total of five pelenties ahead of the Netherlands on 10 and Switzerland on 13.
Harley was the anchor man for team Ireland and jumped the winning clear round to seal victory for the home nation.
[adrotate group=”68″]“It was a great achievement and a very special one,” Harley told Donegal Sport Hub.
“It’s the first time Ireland has won a European gold. To have won it in Ireland was extra special.
“It was very tough, the standard was so high. We were quite confident, but again anything can happen come the Championships. We were strong and determined that we’d do as well as we could.
“It just came together on the day.”
Harley, who has been based with the Van Paescchen family in Brussels, Belgium for the past two and a half years, also finished fifth individually for the championships, which was jumped over gruelling five rounds at a height of 1.50-1.55 metres.
Next week, Harley hopes in his first four-star show.
He said: “I like it in Belgium. It’s busy. With horses, it’s a seven-day job.”
