WITH a final clear round from Susan Fitzpatrick and Barbara O'Reilly-Hyland's Rock Dee Jay today (Friday), Ireland's pony team secured a Bronze Medal at the European Pony Championships in Arezzo, Italy.

Lying equal second after yesterday's first round of the ten-country Nations' Cup, an intense battle for the top three places took place this afternoon in a competition so close than only one fence separated all the final national scores.

Tim MacDonagh and Jackie Lee's Irish Sport Horse gelding Imagine If One were the Irish pathfinders and locked in a valuable zero score as openers, but today had two fences down to finish on a total score of eight faults.

Matt Garrigan with Martin Garrigan's Irish Sport Horse Future Interest had a single mistake in each round to also finish on eight faults, while Killian Norris and Messrs Wright & Norris's Irish Sport Horse Javas Alun had a clear round to open, but dropped one pole this afternoon to finish on four penalties.

Susan Fitzpatrick with Barbara O'Reilly-Hyland's 11 year-old Rock Dee Jay had a four fault first round, but in order to secure Bronze Medal position for Ireland today as last rider needed to jump clear, and to a rousing ovation from the Irish fans romped home on a zero score.

The European Pony Show Jumping Championships today saw Germany take Gold on four faults, with Great Britain in Silver Medal position on eight faults. Ireland's final tally was 12 faults.

Ireland's pony team jumped under the direction of Horse Sport Ireland's Pony Show Jumping High Performance Coach Tom Slattery.

The Irish pony Bronze Medal adds to Ireland's Individual European Silver Medal won in the Junior Show Jumping Championships last week by 17 year-old Wexford rider Bertram Allen and Molly Malone at Vejer de la Frontera in Spain. Meanwhile a second Irish pony team is in fourth place after dressage at Arezzo's Pony European Eventing Championships.