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European
Championships - O'Connor Best Of Irish In Opening Battle Of
The Giants |
WITH
THE all-important Nations Cup looming tomorrow (Friday), the four
riders who must defend Ireland's European Show Jumping Championship
title rode careful but determined rounds on their top horses in
the Speed Class at Donaueschingen today (Thursday).
For
individual points gained today may count in the final reckoning
for Olympic qualification if the quartet fails to shine sufficiently
brightly in the team event tomorrow. But as today's Speed Class
horse will also be tomorrow's Nations Cup horse, all riders were
acutely aware of the gamble in pushing their animals too hard in
this opening battle of the European giants
.With
a staggering line-up of 77 of Europe's very best riders and horses,
it was Ireland's 23 year-old Cian O'Connor who emerged as an early
Top Ten contender, jumping halfway down the running order on <Waterford
Crystal> but clocking up a fault-free round of 84.54 seconds
that put him into Fifth at the halfway stage.
Kevin
Babington on <Carling King> were holding onto 11th place at
the same stage with a clear round of 89.09, but as the heavy guns
from France, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany started to
take their toll, both Irish riders slipped inexorably down the rankings.
Billy
Twomey on <Luidam> managed a respectable 88.01 seconds, that
included one fence down and took him higher on the leaderboard than
team-mate Babington, while Robert Splaine on <Coolcorron Cool
Diamond> had a fast time of 82.47 but incurred enough faults
to finish him on a total of 94.47.
In
the end, it was only O'Connor who managed to finish in the Top 20,
tying in 13th place with German ace Ludger Beerbaum on <Goldfever>,
but both Twomey (26th) and Babington (29th) kept within the Top
30, signalling that Ireland will still be a force to be reckoned
with tomorrow.
SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: EUROPEAN SHOW JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS
DONAUESCHINGEN GERMANY 20-24 AUGUST 2003
Prize
of the town of Donaueschingen and of the
Ministry for Food and Rural Area Baden-Württemberg
International Speed and Handiness Competition
First rating for the European Individual and Team Championships
1)
Equest Carnute; Velin, Thomas (DEN) Time 77.36
2) For Pleasure; Ehning, Marcus (GER) Time 77.38
3) Pozitano; Mandli, Beat (SUI) Time 78.31
=13)
Waterford Crystal; O'Connor, Cian (IRL) Time 84.54
=13) Goldfever ; Beerbaum, Ludger (GER) Time 84.54
26)
Luidam; Twomey, Billy (IRL ) Time 88.01
29) Carling King; Babington, Kevin (IRL) Time 89.09
44) Coolcorron Cool Diamond; Splaine, Robert (IRL) Time 94.47
77
starters
http://www.horsesport.ie
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