A breeding ground for future success
Camaraderie, fun, sense of achievement and good, old-fashioned rivalry. It is where the little-knowns get a chance to take on the elite in the battle for glory.
In a week when the sport was shown to be rotten in many respects, Millstreet will do its utmost to demonstrate its vitality.
Show jumping is about a rider’s bid to achieve a union of mind and body with a being that isn’t human to achieve a common goal.
Yesterday, pony rider Jessica Burke from Galway did not achieve that aim with Glascloune Sweeper.
A breakdown in communication with her bay gelding resulted in two fences down in the jump-off of the 138cms A/B Derby Qualifier.
The clouds had gathered as she sped around, a portent of the conclusion, but she had tried and for that she got a round of applause.
Outside the arena, the post mortem: “Did you not see the clock? You were up three seconds, you should have slowed down.”
Failure this time. A yardstick for success, but looking to improve.
The Burkes are no different from anyone in that respect.
Jessica is accustomed to success, having just two weeks ago returned from Italy with a European Championship bronze and placing individual 10th ... all at the age of 13. Two years ago, she won the 128cms championship at Millstreet.
This week, Jessica and her parents, Francis and Catherine, will, as usual, sleep in their lorry, accompanied by the teenager’s seven ponies.
All her animals must be worked regularly, which means warm-up followed by schooling over fences. It’s time-consuming, but she lives for it: “Pelly is my favourite (Drumloughra Pelly). I’ve had her since I was eight. She’s very cheeky, she thinks she’s the boss.”
Jessica is typical of the hundreds of children competing alongside the more seasoned campaigners this weekend. She will put yesterday’s performance behind her.
“I love Millstreet. I have a fair bit of luck here,” she says, optimistically.
She could yet be fortunate this weekend, having qualified three of her ponies for the 138cms final.
Meanwhile, Joan Greene claimed the speed derby 12 months ago here on Scéal Eile. Yesterday, she was back on the winning trail with the 10-year-old Coevers Diamond Boy gelding, taking the plaudits in the show’s first open class.
Fourth to go in an eight-horse jump-off, the Clare rider grabbed the competition by the scruff of the neck and crossed the line clear in 35.02 seconds.
Linda Russell was next on the trail, but, galloping to the second, she lost time when missing her turn to the third and finished faultless in 35.43.
Third went to the fastest of the four faulters, Stephen Egan, who fell foul of the second part of the double.
