O’Connor keeps up his Olympia Christmas tradition

Christmas is all about tradition... and so it is with Cian O’Connor and Olympia.

The Meath-based rider has made a habit of winning at London’s festive spectacle and, on Wednesday, he claimed the Pudding Stakes with the gelding Splendor.

“Olympia has been a very lucky show for me and I have won all the major classes here,” he said yesterday. “Aside from Wednesday’s feature class, I won the Earls Court jump-off class in 2009, and over the years I won the grand prix and the Santa Stakes and I was second in the World Cup. It’s been the most successful show of my career. One of the reasons, I think, is because of the packed house, with so many Irish supporting you, both here and on TV, so you take more chances. You want to give something back. It is a bit like the RDS show, it is all duck or no dinner.”

O’Connor is aiming the 13-year-old gelding Splendor at Sunday’s grand prix, but more immediate and if not greater interest will focus on the exciting Ulano in tomorrow’s World Cup.

“Ulano jumped clear in a 1.50m contest on Wednesday. He felt very rideable and careful. He won three grand prix at home in the last few months and was sixth in the grand prix in Stockholm, but he’s never jumped anything like this before.

“It will be difficult and it would be different if I had Blue Loyd and was fully loaded, but I am looking forward to it. It is about giving Ulano the opportunity to jump at this level, but if a chance opens up, you can bet I will grab it.”

Last Monday, O’Connor ensured the HSI awards lunch gained huge media attention as he brought show jumping to Croke Park for the first time, negotiating a replica of the London bus fence that featured at the Olympics.

The bronze medallist said the event provided an opportunity for reflection, something that could also be applied to his fellow award winners who ensured a memorable year for Irish equestrian sport.

“It’s only now at these occasions that I can actually enjoy and reflect on the magical pictures from London with family and friends,” said O’Connor after highlights of the Games were shown on a big screen.

The ceremony was also notable for the attendance of Sports Minister Leo Varadkar — who presented the awards — indicating his appreciation of the sector’s importance.

Video footage of Cian jumping in Croke Park can be found at: http://exa.mn/f5

* HSI yesterday said approximately 10 people had applied for each of the managers’ positions in show jumping and eventing.

Interviews are set for January, and both posts should be filled by the end of the month. It is believed both incumbents, Robert Splaine (show jumping) and Ginny Elliot (eventing) have applied to retain their positions.

As per HSI structures, the interview panel will comprise the HSI chief executive, the chairperson of the HSI high performance committee, the chairpersons of the relevant affiliates (ShowjumpingIreland and Eventing Ireland) and a nominee of the Irish Sports Council.

* Billy Twomey is “confident” a surgeon in Germany will today give him the go ahead to return to competition.

The British-based Corkman had surgery in early November on a prolapsed disc and returned this week to Germany, for assessment.

“I’ve been seeing the physios and hopefully I’ll get a clean bill of health,” said Twomey yesterday. .

He has selected Drachtan in the Netherlands for his first show, in the second week of January, while he has got a personal invite for the World Cup show in Leipzig, Germany, a week later. “I thought it would be sensible to go to a nice level three-star show ahead of Leipzig. I will have Tinka’s Serenade, Romanov, as well as a seven-year-old, Aminko.”

Twomey is realistic about his chances of making the World Cup final.

“It’s late, most riders will have had five World Cups done before I start. There’s a chance I will qualify, but I won’t kill myself. If I get it, so be it.”

He also lamented his fall in the world rankings, saying the FEI declined to freeze his points, in light of his surgery-enforced lay-off. “I was up to third in the world for a couple of years. It’s frustrating to watch your ranking slip. I’m 36th at the moment. I got on to the FEI to see if they could freeze my points, but they said no.”

* Eventing Ireland is to maintain all 2013 memberships at the 2012 rates.

However, registration for horses on zero points will increase by €10 to €70, while upgrades from ‘restricted’ to ‘horse’ will now be €30. All other registration prices will remain unchanged.

The Sportsman C entry fee will rise by €5/£5 to €60/£45 to bring it in line with existing intro-class prices.

Changes to day memberships will be announced in the new year.

* Carbery Pony Club’s Area 5 show jumping league in the West Cork Equine Centre begins on Jan 6, followed by shows on Jan 13, 20.

Classes include micro, mini, midi and maxi, as well as an accumulator and a ‘handy pony’ competition for young children. The highly-popular nations-cup-style contest is also on the schedule.

An inter-club competition for teams of four is to be introduced, with super prizes promised. O’Brien’s Saddlery in Bandon has been as generous as ever, as have Bucas, Thoroughbred Remedies, Foran, and Redmills, with sweeteners also from Coolmore Cakes, and Seymour Biscuits. Contact: 086/8257641.