Team Germany (pictured above) stamped its authority all over the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships and galloped away with a convincing seventh gold in the history of this contest.They led from the start and finished an impressive 37 penalties clear of Ireland, the latter nation left celebrating its first European medal following a long 30-year wait.France the Olympic Champions at the Rio Games in 2016 completed the podium when securing bronze.When we came here, we hoped to be on the podium, but we didnt expect to be first, confessed Germanys chef dequipe Annette Wyrwoll. To be in Great Britain, to beat the British I never expected it. Our riders and our horses were great, and it was simply bad luck for the others.Team podiumIts special to stand next to MichaelThe German team included Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH, who also claimed the individual silver behind European champions Laura Collett and London 52.His teammates were Jerome Robine (on Black Ice), Malin Hansen-Hotopp (Carlitos Quidditch K) and Libussa Lubbeke (Caramia 34).We ask him everything. He had some good advice, but we all had an idea and a system how to do it. Its always special to stand next to him and compete with him, said Jerome about his multi-medalled teammate, Michael.Germanys last European eventing team gold came back in 2019, on home soil in Luhmuhlen. Michael Jung was a part of that line up, too.England is a very big country, especially in eventing. Its such a strong nation, he said.When I was young, I always watched videos of Badminton and Burghley. To stand on the podium and receive the gold medal here is a dream. In the end, we were all very well prepared, from the first rider to the last. The dressage was under pressure, the cross-country was perfect, and we can all be proud of our horses, our team, and the people working behind the scenes. We are already excited for the big [world] championships in Germany at Aachen next year.We are on the upIrelands Padraig McCarthy on Pomp N Circumstance. Credit: FEI/Benjamin ClarkPadraig McCarthy finished best of the Irish in 12th individually aboard Pomp N Circumstance. He credited his nations climb up the leaderboard from seventh after dressage to having brilliant jumping horses.We came in knowing that we had very good cross-country horses and we probably wouldnt be in the hunt after the first day, said Padraig, who lives in Devon with his wife Lucy (nee Wiegersma). I kept saying to everyone its not going to be a dressage competition, especially with Captain Phillips designing. I thought yesterday was an amazing day of sport. The guys were really eager to get the job done. Aoife [Clark, whose horse Full Monty De Lacense fell when exiting the water, fence 20] was very unlucky, but it was a team effort and it just goes to show that when you have good cross-country horses and jumpers you can climb.Teammate Robbie Kearns, 18th individually on his senior debut aboard Chance Encounter, described winning silver as incredible. Im so proud to be a part of this team and to be standing beside these guys on the podium. Its what dreams are made of, he said.Chef dEquipe Dag Albert added: I think theyre all going along the right track. The young riders were very good a few weeks ago and these guys, I mean, we are on the up, I hope.Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis completed the Irish team and finished 14th individually.Into the water troughA jubilant Astier Nicolas prompted plenty of laughter at the final press conference when he told the media that team France would be celebrating by throwing the chef dequipe [Jean-Luc Force] into a water trough.Then well head to the bar and see whats happening, whether we miss the boat [home] or not, he added with a wink.Assisted by Alexis Goury (on JeVall), Sebastien Cavaillon (Elipso De La Vigne) and Luc Chateau (Cocorico De LEbat), Astier and his French comrades had slotted into bronze position after the first dressage phase.However, they temporarily slipped to fourth behind Switzerland after the latter nations riders pulled off faster clear rounds on cross-country day.When Frances riders all showjumped clear on the final day, with only a few time-faults to add, they moved back up to a podium position.Two Swiss riders, meanwhile, knocked down five fences between them and the team picked up a smattering of time-faults to fall out of medal contention.In the end, a convincing 15.8 penalties separated third place from fourth. Austria finished fifth and became the final team to finish with three counting scores.Final team resultsGermany 124.9 penaltiesIreland 161.9France 167.5Switzerland 183.3Austria 207.7Great Britain 1060Belgium 1118.2Italy 1144.8Sweden 2061.5View the final leaderboard in fullView the final individual leaderboardImages by Tim Wilkinson unless statedRelated contentEmotional Laura Collett wins the individual gold shes always wanted on horse of a lifetime *Photo gallery*Britain crashes out of contention for a European team medalThe bubble has to burst at some point: update on the British riders who fell off at the EuropeansWe rode here 20 years ago! These riders rode at the first Blenheim Europeans and theyre back againThe post Germany gallops away with 7th Europeans gold, ahead of euphoric Ireland in silver appeared first on Your Horse.