Donegan 10th At Badminton - Career Personal Best

Ireland's Patricia Donegan today (Sunday) riding the 11 yr old Irish-bred <Don't Step Back> in the combination's first ever attempt at the world-famous Badminton Three Day Event, finished 10th of the 80 riders who started the competition on Thursday.

Ireland's only other entrant, Edmond Gibney, on King's Highway, finished 19th overall, but was awarded the Glentrool Trophy, which is won by the rider with the most improved performance between the Dressage Test and the final score.

However, the Irish glory today went to the 29 yr old Donegan from Bandon in Co. Cork, who has competed for Ireland at the 2000 Sydney Olympics (Team 5th), the European Championships at Pau in 2001, and the World Equestrian Games at Jerez in 2002, but who has never before tackled the daunting Badminton event. This was a career personal best for her as an individual rider, at this level.

England's Pippa Funnell, who had led for most of the weekend, won the Event today, riding <Supreme Rock>, narrowly beating Norway's Piia Pantsu.

THREE-DAY EVENTING RESULT: CCI**** BADMINTON GREAT BRITAIN 1-4 MAY 2003

1) PIPPA FUNNELL (GBR) SUPREME ROCK Total Faults 44
2) PIIA PANTSU (NOR) YPAJA KARUSO Total Faults 44.4
3) JEANETTE BRAKEWELL (GBR) OVER TO YOU Total Faults 47.4

10) PATRICIA DONEGAN (IRL) DON'T STEP BACK Total Faults 60
19) EDMOND GIBNEY (IRL) KING'S HIGHWAY Total Faults 94.4

http://www.horsesport.ie

.