Ireland Crowned as WORLD CHAMPIONS at Equestrian Games in Korea

Sara Glynn, member of the Gold Medal winning Irish Team, also finished as Silver Medallist Overall Indivudally

The Irish Student Riding Team of Nicola Fitzgibbon (TCD), Ben Crawford (QUB), Sara Glynn (DIT), and reserve Suzie Cave (Open University), was triumphant at the World University Equestrian Championships in Korea today (Tuesday), taking both Individual Silver overall and Team Gold overall! Please read on for more details.

The team was Trained by international eventer Sue Shortt and also accompanied to Sangju in South Korea by Chef d'Equipe Natalie Quinlivan, 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 Individual Silver today was won by Sara Glynn of Killossery Stud, who was beaten by less than one per cent in dressage by Britain's Rebecca Woolven, who took Gold, while Ben Crawford was knocked out in the third round by Nicolette Schriber from the Netherlands, who claimed the Bronze medal, with Crawford ending up in fourth. Nicola FitzGibbon took seventh place overall.

Ireland was awarded the Team Gold medal after finishing in Silver Medal position in show jumping with all members in the top ten individually, and finishing fifth in Team Dressage. A total of 20 nations competed.

Chef d'Equipe Natalie Quinlivan said this morning from Sangju: "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."

The WUEC Irish Squad has expressed its thanks to sponsors Dubarry, Equestrian Jewellery and Elite Saddlery for their very generous support in addition to the assistance received from Horse Sport Ireland and the Colleges and Universities Sports Association of Ireland.

The Championships is a dual discipline comprising both dressage and show jumping with 20 nations competing from throughout Europe, USA, Canada and Asia, and takes place every two years.

Please look at our Gallery to see some pictures from the Games.