Turner keeps focus on the big picture
A medal, he believes, is a realistic goal and if the squad already showing promise can their raise their game another notch, it’s not an unreasonable expectation.
However, Turner said the long-term picture, ie the Olympics, had played a role in determining his Blair selection.
“I’m still aiming for a medal, but from an expectation point of view, one or two of our better up-and-coming horses… one or two that could help secure a medal at the Europeans, but because of the type of championships, the type of going, the undulation, etc and the intensity ofthe track at Blair, I’m looking at perhaps giving those horses an easier run this autumn,” Turner said.
Cork has a double interest in the squad, with Mallow’s UK-based Austin O’Connor (Balham Houdini) and Bandon-based Limerick rider Michael Ryan (Ballylynch Adventure) selected, along with Aoife Clark (Vaguely North), Camilla Speirs (Portersize Just A Jiff), Sam Watson (Horseware Lukeswell) and first-timer Pádraig McCarthy (Simon Porloe).
Ryan’s wife Patricia (Dunrath Eclipse) is on the reserves list, along with Jayne Doherty (The Only One) and Joseph Murphy (Sportsfield Othello).
A team of four will be selected after the first horse inspection at Blair Castle, with the other two riders competing as individuals.
“There is a lot of people very positive about where we are going. There’s a lot to look forward to,” Turner added:
An initial entry of 18 combinations is permitted at the nominated entry stage, with the remainder being: Aoife Clark (Arco BB), Jonty Evans (Double Dutch), Mark Kyle (Jesmond Justice), Joseph Murphy (Westwinds Hercules & DHI Topstory), Austin O’Connor (Morning Venture), Michael Ryan (Dunlough Striker), Patricia Ryan (Tullineaskey Hi Ho), Sam Watson (Horseware Bushman).
Meanwhile, Australian Chris Burton’s 24.5 penalties in dressage at last weekend’s Camphire is a world best at CCI two-star level since 2002, theyear the FEI started maintaining an electronic database.
A spokesperson for the FEI confirmed this, adding: “The results from theprevious years are in paper format in out archives. We are not in a position to check the files in the archives to establish whether this is an absolute record.”
Burton achieved the dressage score on Santano II, proceeding to complete flawless rounds on the cross-country and show jumping. For good measure, he also rode the Irish-bred gelding Cooley Lands to second place.
More importantly, his amazing weekend saw him also win the feature Gain/Alltech CIC three-star on Nobilis 18, holding off a late surge by Ireland’s 18-year-old junior-gold-medalist Cathal Daniels on the eight-year-old Irish chestnut mare Rioghan Rua.
- Ireland has 10 riders on the nominated list of riders for next month’s European Show Jumping Championships in Aachen, Germany.
It is Ireland’s last chance to secure a place in the Olympics.
The list is: Bertram Allen (Molly Malone V, Romanov), Shane Breen (Golden Hawk, Reconnaissance), Greg Broderick (MHS Going Global), Cameron Hanley (Antello Z and Z Acodate), Darragh Kenny (Sans Soucis Z and Picolo), Dermott Lennon (Loughview Lou Lou), Denis Lynch (Abbervail van het Dingeshof and All Star 5), Cian O’Connor (Be Gentle and Good Luck), Conor Swail (Grand Cru vd Vijf Eiken) and Shane Sweetnam (Chaqui Z).
- The Hickstead leg of the Furusiyya Nations Cup Series takes place today, but Ireland is not represented.
That’s not to say it isn’t important for manager Robert Splaine and Co, as it will define the requirements in Dublin next week, if we are to book a place in the final in Barcelona, Spain, at the end of September.
Ireland lie sixth ahead of today’s competition, with seven Europe Division One places on offer in the final.
However, of the five countries bidding for points today — Britain, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Belgium — the first three are below us. Also, those same three will be vying with Ireland for points in Dublin.
Yesterday, Tipperary’s Trevor Breen, competing at Hickstead as an individual with his brother Shane, won a speed class on Georgie D’Auvray EC.
- The renowned Beecher family feature in a TV show next Friday, as they prepare for the annual pilgrimage to the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.
The half-hour documentary on RTÉ 1 at 7.30pm, follows father Tim, son Paul and the many characters associated with Loughnatusa Stud in Co Waterford as they ready themselves for last year’s show.
