Irish eventing team face hot Aachen opposition
The Oxfordshire-based Corkman brings Kate Jarvey’s Ringwood Mississippi, on which he finished 13th in Kentucky last April. He is joined by Sarah Ennis (Sugar Brown Babe), Aiden Keogh (Master Tredstep), and Joseph Murphy (Electric Cruise), as Ireland makes its debut in the competition.
“I would say that, on paper, it is quite a strong squad. They are not sending a team for the sake of it. Joseph’s horse has very good form. Sarah’s mare is getting good results at this level, both in Ireland and abroad, and my lad had a very good Kentucky, his first four-star, which was a big jump for him.”
O’Connor said any result must be measured against the quality of the opposition, but even more so at Aachen, which has attracted the sport’s luminaries.
“Realistically, it is as hot as any European championship, possibly hotter, as you have teams from outside Europe. It is an unofficial World Games.”
Asked if the event could be used as a pointer for the European Championships in Sweden next August, he said: “No. Absolutely not. There are certainly three good combinations not going to Aachen, as this obviously did not fit into their programmes.
“The idea is that the team in Aachen wants to go well and be under serious consideration for the Europeans.
“As Ireland got an invitation to Aachen, it shows we are among the top nations in the world and, obviously, while we will try to do our best, we need a little bit of luck on the day.”
He also said new manager Nick Turner is “bringing something different” to the set-up.
“Results so far, show his appointment is working well. He has certain programmes in place already and is moving everything forward and upping everybody’s game.”
Meanwhile, the Irish show jumping team for the nations cup at Aachen, nominated as a points-gaining event in the Furusiyya Series, is: Shane Breen (Balloon/Cos I Can); Shane Carey (Ballymore Eustace); Dermott Lennon (Loughview Lou-Lou), Cian O’Connor (Carpe Diem/ Cooper), and Billy Twomey (Diaghilev/ Tinka’s Serenade).
lThe Munster Agricultural Society is hoping to incorporate show jumping into the main activities of Cork Summer Show.
This could see it staging its own exhibition-style competitions if ShowjumpingIreland (SJI) cannot accommodate the event into the national calendar.
Cork Summer Show development manager Gerard Murphy said: “The problem for us is that the national calendar of ShowjumpingIreland is fairly full on this weekend. If we really want to get the top riders on these dates, we are going to have difficulties. As a result, any show jumping in Cork Show will probably be on an exhibition basis.
“This year, we had 20 teams in the inter-schools competition on Friday [the day before the show proper], and we also have a separate two days of show jumping in July that is free to the public, but I agree it is not the same thing as being part of the main Cork Show.
“As such, we would encourage SJI to edge our way into the calendar. We are interested in working with SJI and Horse Sport Ireland — we are holding HSI qualifiers at next month’s show jumping event — and it is not our intention to step on anyone’s toes in terms of clashing with existing shows.”
SJI chairman Tony Hurley was upbeat in his response.
“Show jumping should be part of Cork Show. It was an essential part of the show up to 10 to 15 years ago and both complemented each other. SJI would be delighted to work with the Munster Agricultural Society and it is the intention that we would see the sport return to the event by next year. This would be a very positive development.”
*Paul Beecher will be at Hickstead for the derby this Sunday, but only as a spectator.
The Waterford rider won the famed contest last year, but subsequently saw the ride on the winning horse, Loughnatousa WB, handed to Michael Lonsdale, who obviously hopes the Beecher-bred gelding can make it two-in-a-row on Sunday.
“It would have been nice to be competing in it again, but I wish Michael has as much luck as I had last year,” said Beecher.
“Hopefully, another day will come when I have a horse that can take me back to the derby.”
Beecher made history last year by being the first person to jump a clear round when drawn first to go, before going on to give Ireland its 13th win in the competition’s 52-year history.
*Blackrock Charity Show takes place on Sunday at the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, beginning at 10am.
It boasts 21 competitions in three arenas, the feature being the Cork/Kerry SJI 1.10m qualifier.
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