Local lad brings home youth eventing silver

IRELAND’S Youth Eventing teams enjoyed huge success at the 2022 FEI European Youth Eventing Championships in Hartpury, Great Britain, with the U18 (Junior) team claiming the silver medal, while the U21 (Young Rider) team brought home the bronze.
The GAIN Equine Nutrition Irish Junior team of Co. Down’s Tom Rowlatt McCormick, Kildare’s Julia Adams, Westmeath’s Ted O’Leary and Galway’s Godfrey Gibbons, managed by Dag Albert, were in third place after the opening Dressage phase on Friday. An excellent Cross-Country performance on Saturday saw them remain in bronze medal position heading into the final Show Jumping phase.

All four Irish team members jumped clear in the final jumping phase to keep Ireland on their score of 95.7 and this saw Ireland overtake Germany to win the silver medal.

Britain won gold on 92.8, while the bronze went to Germany on 95.8.
Tom also took individual sixth place overall in the competition, out of over 50 entries from all over Europe. His team mates Godfrey Gibbons and Julia Adams were also in the top eight overall.

Tom’s horse, ‘Mon Ami Alme’ was home-bred here in Co. Down and his trainers, Terry Boon and the Steeles, based at Riverhill Stud, are also local. His Show Jumping trainer, Debbie Byrne, is based in Antrim.

Tom’s family are hugely grateful for all the support that he has received from his farrier, Colin McCormick (Surefoot); his vet, David Turley (KR Equine) and his Equine Chiropractor, Hannah Anderson from Tyrella.

Tom is a member of East Down Branch of the Pony Club and has been riding since he was three years old, together with his older brother Ben. Tom attends Friends’ School Lisburn and has another year in the Horse Sport Ireland Junior Eventing High Performance programme. He is also sponsored by the Mary Peters Trust, who do so much to help youth athletes in Northern Ireland.