Dermott Lennon Wins Ireland's First Individual Gold

Dermott Lennon of Ireland

Ireland has taken its first Individual World Championship Gold in Show Jumping. Thirty three-year old Dermott LENNON rode superbly to win the 2002 Individual Jumping Championship four faults ahead of Silver medallist Eric NAVET (FRA) finishing on eight faults.

“I found my own horse the easiest to ride and I really liked Eric’s horse (Dollar du Murier HTS de Seine)." said Lennon of the horses he had to ride. "It seemed to suit the same system of riding as Liscalgot. Peter’s mare (Fein Cera) was just beautiful, a little bit tense when I first got on, but she was lovely to ride in the ring. Helena’s horse (Utfors Mynta) wasn’t difficult she just needed a bit of pace.”

France's Eric Navet also enjoyed riding Peter Wylde's horse Fein Cera. “She was so well and sensitive. Helena’s mare is not my usual type of horse and I had a really bad ride to the triple bar with her, but the fault was mental. Liscalgot is so scopey, but her distances were not as short as they were for my horse. Dermott was brilliant. He made no mistakes and he deserved to win.”

More than 20,000 people filled the Chapin Stadium to see the Final, when the top four riders from the first three qualifiers rode each of the four final horses to decide the new world champion.

Eric Navet of France

The Bronze medal went to American Peter WYLDE finishing on twelve penalties. The US-rider competing based in the Netherlands, jumped clear on his own horse and had one rail down with each of the others.

“I think anyone who knows me knows how much I love horses and my own in particular." explained Wylde. "It made me really proud to see her go so well today. I preferred riding my own horse to everyone else’s.”

Swedish rider Helena LUNDBÄCK finished in fourth position. With twenty one penalties she missed out on a medal. She had one rail down with her own mare MYNTA and finished on time penalties with the French stallion and the American mare. The Irish bred Liscalgot was her worst match with three rails down.

Peter Wylde of USA

The bay 12 year old Holsteiner mare FEIN CERA, bred in Germany and ridden by Peter WYLDE, turned out to be the best horse of the final. She finished with just three time penalties.

Spanish course designer Avelino RODRIGUEZ MIRAVALLES designed a course of eight obstacles including one treble for the final. Heights were up to 1.53m and oxers up to 1.65m in width. The main faults on course were caused on fence Number Six five strides from the treble combination.

LENNON jumped three clear rounds and incurred just four penalties riding the Swedish horse UTFORS MYNTA. He was the clear leader after round three.