Ireland enjoyed a hugely successful day at the World University Equestrian Championships in Tokyo on Sunday.
Gerald Bloomer from UCD took the individual gold medal in dressage, Lee Murphy from DIT won individual gold in show jumping, while also taking the silver medal in the combined championship (dressage and show jumping). Andrew Bourns from WIT took the silver medal in show jumping.
Ireland also took the bronze medal in the team event, which comprised of Bloomer, Bourns and Murphy.
The semi-finals in show jumping ended with Murphy and Bourns competing against each other for the gold medal. Before starting the last stretch in their competition, both riders performed the ‘Drinking Ceremony’, a custom among university championship riders. According to Japanese tradition, they both had to finish a bowl of sake.
In the actual final it was Murphy who prevailed and won the gold medal, leaving the silver to his teammate Andrew Bourns. The bronze medal went to Shingo Hayashi from Japan.
The World University Equestrian Championships take place every two years and 2004 marks the sixth event in the series.
