MOUNTED Games Association Ireland members returned home victorious recently from their summer international tour with the 2018 World team title once again firmly in the bag.

The tour first started with the World Pairs Championship in Denmark back in July where Ireland was represented by Louth teenager Leo Kieran and Aido Hanlon from Co. Meath in the under 17 and open categories respectively while the only girl to represent Ireland, Marie Louise Hughes from Co. Monaghan, was also in under 17s.

Leo qualified for the final with his partner Immy Lyons from the UK and finished a very respectable fourth place, Marie Louise and her partner went one better and finished on the podium in third place.

The European team and individual championship was the next stop for the tour. This took place at the LaBonde Equestrian Centre at Gizors in Normandy. Ireland was well represented in the teams as well as the individual competition.

Both under 17 and open teams made the finals and both finished in fourth in their categories.

The under 17 riders were Padraig Moran, Killian Creed and Jack Nolan from Wexford, Danni Oliffe who is based in the UK and whose grandparents are also from Wexford, and Laois O’Leary from Cork. The open riders were Aido Hanlon and Ross Crowe from Co Meath, Mark Devitt from Laois, Ian Hyland from Kildare and Aisling O’Leary from Co. Cork.

Representing Ireland in the individuals were Andrew Devitt and Jamie Reavey in the open section while Marie Louise Hughes and Leo Kieran were in the Under 17 cateogry. Almost all made their final with Leo being the best placed of the Irish finishing in third.

GOLD FOR IRELAND

The highlight of the tour was the World Team Championships which were hosted by Belgium MGA in the amazing venue of the Hippodrome de Wallonie in Mons.

Here Ireland fielded teams in both the under 17 and open categories.

The qualifying rounds took place over three days from August 22nd-24th. Our under 17 team of Leo Kieran, Aodan O’Leary, Marie Louise Hughes, Padraig Moran and Killian Creed qualified for the final and again finished a respectable fourth.

The open team of Peter McCarthy, Jake O’Connor and Ben O’Connor all from Naas, Co. Kildare, Craig O’Connor from Dungarvan, Co. Waterford and Ian Hyland from Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, impressed in the early heats and qualified comfortably for the final. They took the lead early in part one of the final which they held overnight and they gave an outstanding performance to draw away from the other teams and claim the gold medal.

Germany and Italy had a close battle for the silver which came down to the last game which Germany claimed to take second. Craig O’Connor was presented with the Keith Martin Trophy for the outstanding player of the championship.

The open team would like to thank Pat Coakley Medical, Kilcoole, for his generous sponsorships for the team with Equie-N-Ice products.

From Belgium, the tour moved back to LaBonde for the World Individual Championship. Here Ireland had representatives in all age groups from under 12 to open.

MGA newcomer Ruth Schofield did everyone proud in her first international appearance at under 12 level and is one to watch for the future.

In the under 14 age group, Ruth’s brother Caleb, also making his debut international appearance, won his C final. Also competing in this age group were Niamh O’Leary from Enniscorty, Rachel Crowe from Meath and John Nolan from Laois. John made it through the tough semi-final to qualify for his first international final which will no doubt not be his last.

Under 17 riders Leo Kieran and Marie Louise Hughes were joined this time by Aodan O’Leary from Enniscorty, Sadie Hyland from Co Kildare and Laoise O’Leary from Cork.

Danni Oliffe, Aodan, Leo and Marie Louise made the semi-finals and Leo managed to claim a spot in the final where he finished fourth. Danni won the C final.

WORLD TEAM VICTORY

Open riders Peter, Jake and Ian, fresh from their World Team victory, all qualified for the semi-finals but in the end the experience of Jake and Peter stood to them and they made it into the final. Ian gave it his best shot but it just wasn’t to be.

Phil Weldon from Co Meath, who was the reserve rider at the team championships, had some very competitive qualifying rounds and just missed a semi-final spot. Ross Crow, who didn’t make the semi-finals, finished second in his C final.

In what was described by the riders as the toughest final they had ever ridden in, both Peter and Jake were in contention for podium places. Peter took the lead midway through the final but some uncharacteristic mistakes dropped him to third place with one race to go.

Jake was one point behind in fourth place and Peter finished ahead of Jake in the last race to hold the third spot.

The title was retained by Germany’s Wid Morman, claiming his fifth title overall, and he is also the current European individual title holder.