Lennon grabs individual title for Ireland

EQUESTRIAN: Even the legendary Eddie Macken couldn't do it, twice finishing second. But Dermott Lennon from Down was yesterday crowned world showjumping champion under the blazing Spanish sun at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez.

Four top showjumpers battled it out for the medals, riding each other's horses to decide the title, but it was 33-year-old Lennon who produced his absolute best when it mattered to claim the individual gold for pure horsemanship.

Lennon, who led the Irish to a first European team title in Holland last summer, has always been known for his cool head, but he can never have known pressure like that heaped on his shoulders yesterday as supporters in the packed stands cheered on their favourites in the foursome.

Eric Navet, the Frenchman who took individual and team gold at the 1990 championships in Stockholm and was part of the French gold medal squad here on Thursday, was favourite to become only the third person in the 50-year history of the championship to claim the title a second time.

Also in there were American Peter Wylde and 26-year-old Helena Lundback, the first Swede and only the second woman through to the final.

But Lennon, even though he had languished in 26th after the first leg on Wednesday, had his sights set on gold and established his claim from the outset, jumping clear with his mare Liscalgot. Navet and Wylde were also faultless on their horses, but Lundback, the rookie of the quartet, hit the second fence for an expensive four faults.

Navet had displayed an unattractive lack of sportsmanship, however, galloping his stallion Dollar Du Murier around the ring after the finish and then niggling it to get the horse wound up for the three strange jockeys who would shortly be climbing aboard. Boos and hisses broke out and Navet must have been aware that he'd already lost a considerable chunk of crowd support.

Lundback was first into the cauldron on a strange horse and made the mistake of thinking that Lennon's Liscalgot, which was syndicated for a record but undisclosed sum in March, needed aggressive riding. The mare showed her objection by kicking out an uncharacteristic three fences and never settled after that, when first Navet and then Wylde were legged up onto her.

Navet, on the Swedish mare Utfors Mynta, and Wylde, with the French stallion Dollar du Murir, both hit a fence apiece, but Lennon shot into the lead with a classy piece of riding to produce a clear with the American's mare Fein Cera. That put Lennon ahead by a fence from Wylde and Navet, with Lundback already struggling in fourth on 12 faults.

Liscalgot then helped Lennon's cause by hitting the third from home with Navet, and Wylde also faulted, this time with the diminutive Swedish mare.

And, when Lennon gave the French stallion a superlative ride to remain on zero after two rounds, the Irish chanting began to build around the stadium as Lennon extended his lead to two rails.

With just one rotation of horses to go, Lennon had drawn the short straw of riding the fiery little mare Utfors Mynta last. The three men had all stated after qualifying from Saturday's top-25 two-rounder that they were most worried about the Swedish mare and, despite her brilliance the day before to get Lundback into the final, the 14-year-old had faulted with each rider so far.

Liscalgot still had one round to go with Peter Wylde, and the front rail off the sixth fell to leave the American hoping for a mistake from Navet if he was to stay in the race for silver. But by then Peter Charles had legged Lennon up onto the Swedish mare and, with two fences in hand, Irish hearts were racing and minds were in overdrive as the dream of gold began to come into focus.

Lennon's coolness under fire rarely wavers and it wasn't found wanting this time either. Having watched the little mare struggling through the combination with the first three riders, Lennon opted for a slightly long stride in and Mynta hit the first element.

But the Loughbrickland-born rider held his nerve and steered the mare clear round the rest of the track to clinch Ireland's first world showjumping gold and first world title since the team gold in eventing back in 1966.

A last faultless round from Navet meant silver for the Frenchman, but even Lundback's clear for two time faults with Navet's stallion couldn't boost the Swede back onto the podium and Wylde took bronze.

The American's mare Fein Cera, clear with all four riders, deservedly took the best horse title, but it may be the last time Wylde gets to ride her as the syndicate which bought her especially for the world games has already been offered a huge sum to sell her to an American amateur.

"I came here to win." Lennon said, after biting on the medal to check if it was real gold. Whatever about the composition of the medal, Lennon's performance was pure gold and the other finalists were unstinting in their praise of the new champion.

For a shy, reserved sportsman from Co Down, it was the perfect end to a perfect day and the start of a four-year reign as champion of the world.