Irish Army Team Takes Silver Medal In Chile

A four-man team from Ireland's Army Equitation School at McKee Barracks in
Dublin today (Saturday February 9, 2002) won the silver medal in the Team
Show Jumping Event at the World Military Equestrian Championships in
Quillota, near Santiago in Chile.

Surprise entrant in the competition was Army Equitation School OC and team
Chef d'Equipe Lt. Col. Gerry Mullins, who was forced to ride when team
member Lt. Shane Carey broke his wrist during training.

<Lt. Carey has his wrist pinned, and is comfortable, >said Lt. Col. Mullins,
<but it meant we were a man short. So although I haven't competed for five
years, I took the ride.>

Gerry Mullins, who, by his own admission, rides no more than once a month
for recreation since retiring from competition, distinguished himself with a
clear round and a four-fault round.

All the Irish riders were using borrowed horses, one of which was the former
Joan Green mount, Irish-bred Coney Lad, ridden to a double clear in the
Championships by Lt. Geoff Curran.

RESULT: WORLD MILITARY EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
QUILLOTA, CHILE, Saturday February 9

1) CHILE (Gold Medal) 4 Faults

2) IRELAND (Silver Medal) 12 Faults
Lt. Col Gerry Mullins 0/4
Lt. Geoff Curran 0/0
Lt. Lee Murphy 8/16
Lt. David O'Brien 16/0

3) ARGENTINA (Bronze Medal) 28 Faults

World Military Championships website http://www.e-equitacion.cl