Sasha Harrison, who missed her Olympic debut when her horse went lame in the final countdown to Sydney last year, is seeking a European medal to make up for the disappointment and her overnight seventh after the first day of dressage at the championships in Pau, France yesterday could well put her in line for a place on the podium, both as an individual and as part of the Irish team.
The Co Armagh rider was a member of Ireland's winning young rider team in 1995 and made her senior team debut in Luhmuhlen two years ago, finishing best of the Irish in 13th on the talented French-bred All Love du Fenaud.
The 13-year-old is well capable of producing a winning dressage test, but was slightly unsettled going into the arena yesterday afternoon, having been made to wait before his entry. As a result, he broke in his first trot extension but, apart from anticipating the rein-back, produced an otherwise soft, obedient test to earn a mark of 54.6 that leaves the Irish duo 8.2 adrift of Italian leader Fabio Magni and the Irish export Loro Piana Cool 'n' Breezy.
Championship debutante Ann Hatton had the benefit of an early start for her test with Monatrea Bert, but the chestnut still found the atmosphere a little too heady for his tastes, although trainer Mary Darcy was thrilled with the improvement. Their mark of 61 for a workmanlike test with only one serious break in the trotwork put them equal 17th of the 32 that started yesterday.
The combined marks of Harrison and Hatton leaves the Irish fifth in the team standings after the first day, but only 11.6 penalties off the leading British, who have come to Pau with a double title to defend.
Pippa Funnell rides her test this morning on the Irish-bred Supreme Rock. Her compatriots Leslie Law and Jeanette Brakewell have got off to a solid start to put the team out in front and slot into fourth and eighth places in the individual rankings.
European three-day event championships, Pau, France - (individual placings after first day of dressage): 1, Italy's Loro Piana Cool 'n' Breezy (Fabio Magni), 46.4 penalties; equal 2, Germany's Brilliante (Inken Johannsen) and Finland's Karuso (Piia Pantsu ), 48.4; 4, Britain's Shear H20 (Leslie Law), 49.2; 5, France's Baba au Rhum (Frederic de Romblay), 51.6; 6, France's Caprice de la Cour (Gilles Viricel), 54.0; 7, Ireland's All Love du Fenaud (Sasha Harrison). Other Irish placing: 17, Monatrea Bert (Ann Hatton), 61.0.
Teams - (after first two riders): 1, Britain, 104.0; 2, Italy, 106.2; 3, France, 109.8; 4, Germany, 111.2; 5, Ireland, 115.6; 6, Belgium, 124.0.
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