Ireland’s Euro aspirations dealt crushing blow
Disaster struck when the pairing fell in the opening competition, a speed class, at the show in San Patrignano, Italy.
Chef d’equipe John Ledingham said the fall was “not too bad” but it left the stallion lame on his near fore leg and he had no choice but to withdraw him.
He confirmed the Corkman’s mount had been suffering from a cough picked up on the way from Vichy, France this week.
After yesterday’s opening round, Ireland stood in 10th place overnight of the 14 teams. But with Splaine sidelined, the team will have no discard score going into today’s Nations Cup-style competition, which will decide the team medals.
Ireland’s star yesterday was Dermott Lennon, the world champion finishing on four faults with the stallion Condios maintaining hopes of an individual medal.
Jessica Kürten and Castle Forbes Maike had 16 faults, while Harry Marshall aboard Ado Annie finished on 12. These scores are carried through to today’s contest.
Ledingham had previously set the bar low in terms of Irish hopes saying a top six finish would be good. Yesterday, however, he conceded even this would be “very difficult” in light of Splaine’s disaster. It would be hard not to disagree with him.
After the opening day Germany lead the team event on 6 penalties followed by France (7.48) and the Netherlands (7.76). Ireland are in tenth on 27.35.
A PRIZEFUND of €600,000, more than 1,350 horses and ponies, 11 international show juming competitions and 36 national classes and more than 100,000 visitors. Impressive facts that can only refer to the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show.
The show, which takes place from August 3-7, was launched this week by Sports Minister John O’Donoghue who described it as “a celebration of the strong equestrian tradition in Ireland”.
Celebration, however, could be limited if Ireland do not do well in the nations cup. Lying second last in the Samsung Super League, if things do not go well in next week’s Hickstead, the home-ground clash could prove pivotal.
Billy Twomey, the hero of last year’s unexpected victory, did not mince his words this week when he said it would be a “disaster” if Ireland were relegated from the league.
Joining him in the squad will be Captain Shane Carey (Killossery), Harry Marshall (Ado Annie), Jessica Kürten (Quibell) and Cian O’Connor (Waterford Crystal).
Kürten has yet to say if she will carry out her threat to never again ride on a team with O’Connor, following his Olympic travails.
So, yet, again Ireland face into battle with controversy as a sub-text.
O’Connor did nothing for détente last weekend, when nudging Kürten down the rankings in the Netherlands. The 25-year-old celebrated the end of his three-month international ban when riding Irish Independent Echo Beach to victory in a two-phase class at the three-star show in Gelderland. Kürten and Castle Forbes Libertina finished two places behind.
He followed his win with a fifth place in the 1.60m grand prix on Waterford Crystal.
The 14-horse jump-off also included Kürten. She opted for a fast round on Quibell, but it came at a cost - four faults - which left her in seventh place.
Meanwhile, in the show rings at Dublin, entrants in the Breeders’ Championship will enjoy a quadrupling of the prizefund, aided by new sponsor the Irish Horse Board. The Bewley’s Ridden Hunter Class has seen a rise in entries, while a new ridden Irish Draught class has been added to the schedule with the intention of demonstrating the temperament and ability of the Irish Draught horse for the amateur market.
A GRADE A performance by the Irish Universities Team saw them claim gold among a hat-trick of medals in the student rider nations cup in the Netherlands recently. Rhian Fitzgerald (UCC), Damien McGuire (AIT) and Philip McGuire (UCG) beat teams representing 16 other countries to win show jumping team gold in Appledorm. The team, under chef d’equipe Feargal McHugh, also netted bronze for combined show jumping and dressage, while Fitzgerald added individual show jumping bronze to her haul.
SARAH KATE QUINLIVAN closed the gap on IJM TimberFrame League leader Cian O’Connor last weekend and also put some daylight between herself and third-placed Shane Breen.
Cork rider Quinlivan finished runner-up twice on board Billy Daly’s Newmarket Girl. The first came on Saturday, when Army rider Lt Brian Curran Cournane rode Carraig Dubh to victory in Crecora, Co Limerick, in a competition sponsored by his comrades Capt Shane Carey and Capt David O’Brien. Breen slotted into equal third place on Luandra, with Curran Cournane figuring again with River Boyne. On Sunday, Quinlivan was pipped by Conor Swail, riding Drumagoland Flight, in Newcastle West. Breen could do no better than fourth with Dorada. Quinlivan now stands on 53 points, nine better than Breen and 22 adrift of leader O’Connor, who boasts 85 points.
