Kürten steers Libertina to fourth place in World Cup opener
The result primed her challenge for the title and, as usual, she credited her horse: “Libertina was really great. I was aiming for a top five, so to finish fourth is brilliant. I just hope I have not taken too much out of her and that there is something left in the tank for the rest of the weekend.”
The competition was a one-round speed class, with faults translated into seconds. The German-based Antrim rider was impressive, Lady Georgina Forbes’s 10-year-old mare equally so, jumping so big and spending so much time in the air, there were fears it would cost Kürten time. They proved unfounded: the clock showed 61.25 and a new leader.
But the Irish rider’s main rivals also had something to say. Marcus Ehing (Sandro Boy) showed why he is world number one by taking the top place on 60.08. Swiss rider Beat Mandli (Ideo du Thot) also knows a thing about timekeeping, coming home in 60.28, while current World Cup champion Meredith Michaels- Beerbaum got a beautiful rhythm out of Checkmate to slot into third on 60.62.
While Ehning is top of the pile, Kürten figures Michaels-Beerbaum is the real threat: “Do not underestimate Meredith, she is my favourite to win, but, of course, Markus will be close behind.”
Jessica’s confidence going into the next two rounds is based on her faith in the mare: “Sure I’m confident to a point, but that’s because I have great belief in Libertina. At the same time, I still have to protect her. This is her first really big competition. She has always answered anything I have asked of her. But we could get a mistake and she does not have the experience that the other horses have. I’m just going to try to do what I always do: jump my best and try for clear rounds.”
She’ll get another chance today in a 1.50m jump-off class, with the last round on Sunday set at 1.60m.
* THE five-man squad to compete in the opening round of the Samsung Nations Cup Super League at La Baule next week was named yesterday.
Team manager Robert Splaine will take charge of Shane Breen (Echo Beach, Mullaghdrin Gold Rain and Royal Concord), Conor Swail (Poncho, Rivaal and Nepomuk), Cian O’Connor (Echo Beach, Casper and Bronson), Capt Shane Carey (Killossery, African Drum and Lismakin) and Edward Doyle (Effective, Utopia and Windgates King Koal) at the French fixture.
* IT WAS a case of see and be seen for Eventing Ireland’s new performance manager Lars Christensson at the Irish Horse Board Ballindenisk International Horse Trials last weekend.
The affable Swede was an obvious spectator during the cross-country, perched high on a ditch to ensure a good vantage point as he assessed the Irish riders taking on the World Cup course.
He stressed that dialogue with the riders is a fundamental to success. “I have been to most of the riders’ yards and seen their home turf. It gives me a picture of their needs.”
In fact, since his appointment in January, Lars’s road to success has already taken him to competitions at Ballindenisk (twice), Tyrella (twice) and Twistleton, Belton and Burnham Market in England.
But what of the state of the sport in Ireland?
“Overall, I have noticed a positive attitude and the standard is good. There is great potential and I feel the riders welcome my input. Already, I can see improvements, but it is early days, so, it will be a while before we see it on the result sheets,” said Lars.
“Overall, though, my job is to support the riders and see what tools are needed. I must set the standard and help them achieve it.”
Naturally, August/September’s World Equestrian Games are the immediate goal. As such, he hopes to gather a group of riders in a training programme and he adds: “We can’t have tourists going, they must prove themselves good enough.”
He also opined that Irish riders were “not used to working as a team”.
“We must break down the barriers and I hope they can learn from each other.”
Investment in the sport also figures high on his agenda. His mantra was familiar: “We have the best horses in Ireland and we must support the owners and encourage them to hold on to their horses.”
But how, Lars? “By improving riders’ skills, horses will improve and compete at a higher level. Owners will be inclined not to sell, as better results at the upper end of the sport will add value to their horses. It is also important that riders have, say, eight great horses instead of 15 average horses.”
As he spoke, the World Cup class was reaching its denouement in the show jumping arena and he was off.
He would have been impressed by the performance of Lieutenant Geoff Curran. The Waterford rider, aboard Kilkishen, added four faults in the show jumping to his earlier cross-country clear to finish second overall.
Lt Curran also placed fifth on Quick Thinking, earning a €1,000 bonus prize for the highest placed horse by an IHB-approved sire.
“Taking three ribbons by any standard is a good day’s work,” said the Waterford rider, who was delighted to have achieved his aim of achieving the qualifying for next month’s Punchestown.
Briton Matthew Wright was the star of the show, winning the feature class on Park Pilot and also claiming third on L’Air Du Jour.
Just in case there were any lingering doubts, the 23-year-old also took the top two places in the two-star class, finishing on his dressage scores of 44.1 and 51.6 with the Irish-bred Grove Joucas and Another Cavalier respectively.
In the Brookpark Saddlery one-star competition, the honours went to Michael Ryan on Master Mexico.
* PAUL O’SHEA put down an early marker in the Boswell Equestrian Grand Prix League last Sunday, beating 2005 champion Cian O’Connor in the season opener in Dundalk.
One of seven into the jump-off, Limerickman O’Shea watched his former mentor O’Connor set the pace with the grey Casper, finishing in 34.80 seconds.
But 28-year-old O’Shea showed he learned a thing or two from O’Connor and, when last to go, he steered The Patriot to victory by just six-hundredths of a second at a sun-drenched Louth County Show.
* SEAN KELLY was in the money at the recent spring finals in Ballyrafter, deservedly taking the top prize in the €1,000 Designer Zone 1.10m Championship.
John Buckley looked to be on to a winner with Warrenstown Caesar, the Cappoquin rider knocking almost 10 seconds off the early target set by Tholm Keane on Walterstown Clover in the 10-horse jump-off.
The odds were long on this being beaten, but Kelly, second last to go, had other ideas. On board the Rantis Diamond-sired Lucky Emerald he finished with a flourish coming home almost a second to the good.
Keane had one more throw of the dice but, despite a determined bid on Warrenstown Well Aware, he had to settle for runner-up.
* TEMPLEMARTIN Hunter Trials in Cork will take place on Sunday and will feature seven classes: starters stakes, under-12s, pony pairs, horse pairs, pony singles, horse singles, open singles.
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