Lennon and Hallmark Elite back in the groove

SHOW jumper Dermott Lennon yesterday demonstrated in style that he and Hallmark Elite were suffering no ill-effects from their travails at last week’s Hickstead.

The Co Down rider was competing in the British Nations Cup, when he fell from the gelding at the water.

Yesterday, the pair cruised through the opening Fáilte Stakes on day one of the Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show, producing a clear at a cost of a single time fault. It kept him out of the money, but gracing the top of the leaderboard was never part of the plan; rather it was more a case of reacquainting Woods Rosbotham’s 10-year-old gelding with the day-to-day aspects of his job.

The former world champion was pleased.

“We are both fine, thank God. We had a lucky escape. Mentally, he’s sound too. He jumped fine. I was happy enough with him. You have to see how he would react to the fall. I had not much time after Hickstead, but I’m happy. I haven’t asked Robert if I’m on the team, but I’m confident,” said the genial Lennon.

He is referring to the fact that from the five on the squad, Lennon, Cian O’Connor (K Club Lady), Shane Breen (Carmena Z), Denis Lynch (Nabab’s Son) and Billy Twomey (Tinka’s Serenade), Splaine must name a four-man team for tomorrow’s nations contest.

It is the final leg of the Meydan Series and, having pulled off a sensational win in Germany last month, sixth in Hickstead last Friday was enough to guarantee Ireland a place among next year’s elite.

Avoiding relegation may seem like the bar is set low, but it is an achievement in itself, with no less than four of the 10 teams heading to the second tier.

Lennon, however, says that Ireland’s place on the leaderboard makes little difference in terms of how he would approach tomorrow’s contest.

“Definitely, Dublin Horse Show is more important than all the others. The home show, home crowd, so we want to do well. I don’t know about feeling extra pressure, though. With nations cups in general, you will always try to do your best, so it’s not a case of trying harder here. But you are conscious that you want to give the home fans something to cheer about... or watch in replay, as you fall off,” he said, jokingly referring to Hickstead.

“The whole squad is really up for it here. It wouldn’t matter if we were winning the league or were last, we approach each competition the same. You want to do well, because you want to do well,” he said.

He said such is the calibre of competition in the Meydan Series, that there is little room for error.

“Everything worked perfectly in Aachen, but even a couple of fences down could drop the team to fifth or sixth. It is that competitive.”

In many minds, Splaine’s selection for Dublin could also be travelling to Kentucky for next month’s Alltech World Equestrian Games (WEG). Lennon entered the pantheon of great Irish show jumpers when taking gold at the Games in Jerez, Spain, in 2002 with the mare Liscalgot. As such, he is acutely aware of the stress it puts on a horse, even without the consideration of a trip across the Atlantic, and a rider and the horse’s owner must weigh up all the considerations.

“Hallmark is a superstar and only getting better, but I’ll make a decision as to whether the horse is ready to do WEG as we approach the end of the month. I’ve been there, done that in terms of WEG and I know what it takes out of a horse. It’s all about whether the preparations go according to plan. The horse has to be in prime condition. It would be unfair otherwise,” he said.

He also has praise for Corkman Splaine.

“I think Robert is doing a great job. He is very open with the riders. We make decisions as a team. He consults before making any plans. It’s a genuine team effort and there is a good feeling in the camp,” he said.

“We have top jockeys and top horses, so we have the makings of a World Championship-winning team. Aachen was the biggest nations cup to date and it showed we are capable of beating anybody on the day. Everything needs to go according to plan, though, including have a bit of luck,” he said.

Yesterday’s international action in the main arena commenced with the Fáilte Stakes and, with Paddy O’Donnell at the top of the results listing, Ireland got the perfect start to the five days of competition.

The rider from Fenor, Co Waterford, had almost four seconds to spare with Harristown Princess, the 12-year-old chestnut mare carrying him over the finish line in 68 seconds to easily beat Sweden’s Daniel Zetterman on Spirit Magic.

Paul O’Shea is top of the domestic Premier Series and yesterday he produced one of 10 double clears in the 1Speed Stakes with Daydream St Ghyvan Z, his time putting him in fourth place, one ahead of Army rider Capt David O’Brien on Kiltoom. Victory went to Dutchman Jur Vrieling on VDL Emmerton.

The money continued to be spread around geographically in the Irish Sports Council Classic, with France’s Kevin Staut and Major De Coquerie coming out tops. The European gold medallist proved best in an 18-horse jump-off, with Americans Laura Kraut (Cedric) and Beezie Madden (Coral Reef Via Volo) second and third, respectively.

Best of the Irish, in eighth place, was Cian O’Connor (Splendor). Like his ninth and tenth-placed compatriots, Shane Breen (World Cruise) and Denis Lynch (Abbervail van het Dingeshof), he four-faulted in the jump-off.

The crowd-pleaser label in today’s schedule can be allocated to either the Speed Derby (1.05pm) or The Burlington Hotel Six Bar (5.40pm), though the Frank Knight Power and Speed (3.20pm) should also provide top-class action.