Chance Encounter, who helped Ireland secure its historic team silver medal at the Agria Blenheim European Eventing Championships last month, has died aged 16.

The Irish Sport Horse gelding, owned by Belline Estate Equestrian and his rider Robbie Kearns, was taken to an equine hospital and treated for colic and sepsis, but could not be saved.

Robbie and Chance Encounter, known at home as Harry, made their championship debut at the European Championships where they helped the team win silver , the country’s first senior European eventing team medal in 30 years. The pair finished 18th individually.

Richard Ames of Belline Estate told the team is “absolutely distraught”.

“Harry was a member of the family and he was just coming to the top of his career. He had his loving groom Maxine Ra

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