Lorcan
The Tipperary rider — who posted a double clear with Shorapur in Ireland’s nations cup victory at the fixture on Friday — returned with the 10-year-old mare last night and was among seven of 35 starters to make the jump-off. While he posted one of only four double clears, his time of 36.45 seconds put him four-tenths of a second slower than American Laura Kraut on the veteran 17-year-old grey gelding Cedric, earning him $30,000.
Meanwhile, Ireland team manager Robert Splaine had high praise for nations cup debutant Lorcan Gallagher following Friday’s surprise win. Conor Swail, riding Grafton, rightly garnered most attention with an ice-cool clear that gave Ireland victory when a single error would have meant a jump-off, but it was his fellow Co Down rider Gallagher who showed maturity that belied his inexperience, it being his first team competition at any level.
Splaine singled out the 23-year-old following a team performance made all the more remarkable by the fact all four Irish horses were making their first outing at senior nations cup level.
The Corkman also hoped some of the quartet would cross the Atlantic in the summer, with Ireland targeting Olympic qualification at the European Championships in August.
“We have a lot of Irish riders based over here in the US, with great owners. I am always looking to broaden our base of riders, so I come here quite often,” said Splaine. “It’s been a great competition today in a fantastic venue. These horses are unknown at this level, so if I can get one or two of them to come to Europe and jump in Division 1 that would be great. I would like to mention Lorcan [Gallagher] who did an absolutely fantastic job, he was the man of the match.”
The competition attracted six nations, with the US, Canada and Mexico bidding for Furusiyya points, along with Colombia and Venezuela.
Ireland showed they meant business from the outset, with Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and Picolo setting the tone with a clear that was repeated by Gallagher aboard Diktator van den Boslandhoeve, Babington on Shorapur, and Swail on Susan and Ariel Grange’s stallion.
The team weren’t having it all their own way, though, with Colombia and Canada also on a zero score at the half-way stage, followed by the US and Venezuela tied for fourth on four faults, and Mexico in sixth on 12 faults.
Round one was not overly-challenging in terms of height, with 16 of the 24 starters producing clears. Round two saw course designer, Germany’s Martin Otto, up the ante, with the challenge posed by Colombia and Canada dissipating.
The home side, however, staged a resurgence, with a second clear from Beezie Madden and Simon putting the pressure on Swail, after Kenny came home with eight faults, Gallagher ended with a foot on the tape at the water, before veteran Babington repeated his first-round clear on the mare.
With the Americans on eight faults, and Ireland on four, Swail knew a single mistake would lead to a jump-off, but it mattered nought as he guided the inexperienced nine-year-old stallion home to clinch the top prize in the $200,000 contest.
“On paper the US were very strong and the Canadians had their WEG [World Equestrian Games] team here, so this was a great result,” said Swail. “It was my horse’s first nations cup and it was same for Kevin’s, and it was Lorcan’s first time to ride a nations cup, while Darragh Kenny was on his speed horse,” he said.
Gallagher learned his trade with former world champion Dermott Lennon in Co Down, but is a relative unknown. He has been based with Shane Sweetnam at Spy Coast Farm in Florida for the last few years, with the Corkman loaning him the horse and he was delighted to be able to repay Splaine for showing faith in him.
“I grew up watching Robert ride, and it’s a dream being here,” Gallagher said.
Babington said of Shorapur: “She is such a fighter, I’m so proud of her to jump clear twice in her first FEI nations cup. She always comes right back and fights for the next jump every single time.”
In dressage, Judy Reynolds improved on her Olympia freestyle score of 70.00% at the Reem Acra World Cup Grand Prix Kür in Neumünster, Germany, yesterday when scoring a personal best of 71.575% with the 13-year-old gelding Vancouver K to place 15th.
In Kildare, the first round of the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour saw victory for Liam O Meara and Mr Cool Calm.
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