Ireland triumphs at World University Equestrian Championships
Ireland was triumphant at the World University Equestrian Championships (1-2 November) in Sangji, Korea, taking overall team gold and an individual silver medal.
Great Britain took team silver, with Britain’s Rebecca Woolven claiming individual gold in the dressage competition of the combined training competition.
The Irish team was Nicola Fitzgibbon, Ben Crawford, Sara Glynn — who won silver — and reserve Suzie Cave.
Trained by international eventer Sue Shortt, the Irish trio produced the country’s first ever university team gold, Ben Crawford having taken individual gold at the last World Championships in Algeria two years ago.
The British team of Georgina Strang, Rebecca Woolven, Danielle Jackson and reserve Joanna Honey, were all knocked out in the second stage off the dressage competition, except Rebecca.
But all the Brits were knocked out in the first and second rounds of the showjumping competition.
Twenty nations from Europe, USA, Canada and Asia took part in the championships, on borrowed horses.
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Irish chef d’equipe Natalie Quinlivan said: “We’ve had a brilliant world championships, and it’s a fantastic result from all team members, who were up against very substantial international teams from all over the globe.”
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.