Billy Twomey relishing returning home for Jumping in the City event

It may be over 20 years since Billy Twomey last competed in his native Cork city, but he had no problems recalling it yesterday, considering he won a puissance on a horse called Larry Hagman.

Show jumping returns to the southern capital tonight with The Underwriting Exchange Limited Jumping in the City at Curraheen Greyhound Stadium and Twomey is aiming for a reprise in the high jump contest, while he is also confident of his chances in the grand prix.

“The last time I competed in Cork city was at the Summer Show at the showgrounds near Pairc Uí Chaoimh. I was a young lad and possibly still in ponies and I won a puissance on a horse called Larry Hagman,” said the English-based 38-year-old.

“My aunt Avril, knowing my parents were away, asked me to jump in the puissance. She was responsible for my whole career, and taught me practically everything I know, but my parents would not have been happy if they knew I was in a puissance.

“I think we jumped about 7ft and we finished equal first with Francis Connors.”

Twomey is relishing the prospect of competing again in his native city. “It means a lot to me. I’m a proud Corkman, and wanted to support the show, jumping in front of my home crowd. It felt the right thing to do.

“I believe the whole concept is a good idea. I think the stadiums are ideal, especially from a corporate aspect, where you have good entertainment and a bit of dinner. It will show that the sport is not elitist, but entertaining. Keeping it simple, with fewer competitors, certainly helps to hold people’s attention.”

Nottingham-based Twomey rides Bellscross Cruisedown in the Devenish Puissance and is third favourite of the six starters with Paddy Power at 4/1, the gelding having carried Sven Hadley to third place in Limerick last Friday. Limerick winner Liam O’Meara tops the betting at 3/2, followed by Daniel Coyle (3/1).

The feature grand prix sees Twomey partner the veteran Tinka’s Serenade and he was understandably upbeat yesterday. “Sven has jumped the horse over big fences, so he’s well capable and I expect to be in the top three, anyway.

“Tinka is 18 now, so we don’t do as much as in the past. She was fourth in a good ranking class in Rome and also went well in Windsor, so she brings some form to the event, plus she has plenty of experience.”

While he has the advantage of being last to jump in the grand prix, he knows he won’t have it so easy, with a host of big names preceding him. Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor (Quidam’s Cherie) has travelled from his summer base in Germany, while former world champion Dermott Lennon saddles up the speedy Loughview Lou Lou. The in-form Greg Broderick, fresh from providing one of only four double clears in the Swiss nations cup, lines out with Golden Exchange.

While Twomey and O’Connor are the headline acts at Curraheen, HSI chairman Pat Wall joked that he is taking his first steps at Curraheen “on the road to Rio” as he tackles the amateur class, having been called up from the reserves. Wall borrowed his horse, Trebor Tell Me More, from the McCourt Family in Warrenpoint, Co Down, as its usual riders are doing exams.

“The students have assured me that their horse can see its own stride and even read the numbers on the jumps,” he joked.

Tonight’s event is the second of three in the inaugural running of Jumping In The City. Obviously, it is too early for an overall assessment, but the Horse Sport Ireland response to queries on the opening night in Limerick was disappointing. Hailed as a success, HSI declined this week to provide hard evidence.

It gave an attendance estimate of approximately 1,500, but many of those were children, with free entrance and, surprisingly, it could not provide a breakdown.

Neither would HSI give any figure for the amount of money raised on the night in support of athletes representing Ireland at the Special Olympic World Games this summer. The target is 10,000 over the three shows, though, if this is not achieved, HSI will make up the shortfall.

It would not disclose any details on its arrangement with the Irish Greyhound Board concerning the use of the stadia, citing commercial sensitivity. However, chairman Pat Wall said HSI is paying a reduced fee, as Jumping In the City is seen as a test venture in a bid to fulfil a recommendation of the Indecon report into the greyhound industry that alternative uses be found for the stadia as a means of generating revenue.

“This showjumping experiment is a pilot for other activities for the stadiums and the fees for the stadiums we have secured as first participants are unlikely to be offered to others so, apparently, the stadia do not want the arrangements made public,” said Wall, who confirmed that takings from the restaurants and bars go to the IGB.

Another laudable purpose of the series is to broaden the appeal of show jumping beyond the cognoscenti, but, as yet, there was no information on whether this was achieved at Limerick. HSI says it will give a media update on the series after its board gets a full briefing on the series on July 21.

Gates open tonight at 5.30pm with the Westwood Ifor Williams Amateur Speed Class at 6.15pm, followed by the grand prix at 7.30pm and the puissance at 8.45pm.

• Ireland’s third place in the Swiss leg of the Furusiyya Nations Cup Series in St Gallen last weekend, following a third in Belgium has moved it up to third on the league table.

However, the leaderboard is a little disingenuous as — continuing the ‘three’ theme — it is in fact last of the three countries that have picked up points in three outings.

Ireland is on 205pts, with Belgium (250pts) leading, followed by France (220pts).

The countries in fourth to seventh — Italy (155pts), Netherlands (135pts), Spain (135pts) and Sweden (130pts) — have had only two opportunities to pick up points in what can only be described as a ludicrous system. Germany, Switzerland and Britain are counting just one of their four point-gaining opportunities.

The next three shows are Rotterdam (June 19), Falsterbo (July 10) and Hickstead (July 31), but Ireland must wait until Dublin before adding to its points tally.

• Millstreet, Co Cork, hit the jackpot again this week when it was allocated the 2017 European Eventing Championships for Juniors and Young Riders by the Federation Equestre Internationale.

A date has yet to be confirmed. It won out over Breda in the Netherlands. Event director Thomas Duggan said: “We are truly delighted and will work to make it a very successful championship.”

Millstreet last year staged the European Pony Championships to great acclaim, with a new eventing course at Drishane Castle, designed by Olympic course designer Mike Etherington-Smith, garnering much praise. The latter will see the venue’s inaugural international eventing fixture on August 28-30 this year.

Next year, Millstreet will host the 2016 European Show Jumping Championships for Juniors, Young Riders and Children on Horses on July 26-31.

The Duggans have declared their ambition to stage the 2022 World Equestrian Games.

• The SJI Munster Region show takes place on Sunday, with big numbers expected, it being the only event in the province on the day.

Five arenas will be in operation, starting at 9.30am, with the 2,000 euro grand prix the feature class.

A 1.20mtr FBD Insurance two-phase has 1,000 in prizemoney, while there will be the usual classes catering for horses and ponies of every grade. Inquiries: 087-2514215, or 087-2763259.