THE year of an Olympic Games brings a sense of anticipation; four years, or in this case, three years in the waiting and the opportunity to write your name in the history books.
Though the Irish team didn’t have the Olympics they dreamed of, when you read through the results this little island has posted this year, it’s pretty clear we have the ability to produce on the world stage at all levels and ages.
It’s hard to forget about the havoc the weather played on the season and how tough the conditions were at events both in Ireland and across Europe, but it didn’t stop the Irish riders putting in impressive performances throughout the year.
Nations Cups wins
The announcement of Agria Insurance as the official sponsor of the Irish eventing team was an exciting development and boost ahead of a big year. Announced at Millstreet International, it was the dream start to the partnership, as the team of Jennifer Kuehnle and Polly Blue Eyes, Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis (ISH), Patrick Whelan and Altitu (ISH) and Robbie Kearns and Ballyvillane OBOS (ISH) stood top of the podium in the FEI Nations Cup.
Lying fifth after dressage, the difficult ground conditions, combined with Mike Etherington-Smith’s tough track, meant that the addition of only 2.4 penalties in the jumping phases was enough to seal the win. High Performance director of senior eventing, Dag Albert’s aim to develop riders for the future, was rewarded.
Building on this success, another podium finish was achieved in the CCIO4*S SAP Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen. Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis (ISH), Joseph Murphy and Calmaro, Austin O’Connor and Isazsa and Sam Watson and Ballyneety Rocketman (ISH) claimed third place in the team competition. Individually, Cassells finished in 11th place, with Murphy and Calmaro just behind them in 12th.
A second FEI Nations Cup win was to come the way of the Irish team, as they finished on top of the podium at Boekelo in October. The team of Susie Berry and Clever Trick (ISH), Aoife Clark and Sportsfield Freelance, Padraig McCarthy and Pomp and Circumstance and Austin O’Connor and Isazsa won the team event by a substantial margin.
Another event where weather wreaked havoc - who can forget the footage of two men trapped in an off-road vehicle in the middle of a mud pit - conditions were tough on the cross-country course. Berry and Clever Trick completed on their dressage score to secure sixth individually, followed closely behind by McCarthy, who finished in 10th. Clark and Sportsfield Freelance finished in 12th place after lowering just one pole on the final day.
Team Ireland, winners of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Military Boekelo 2024 L-R: Padraig McCarthy riding Pomp N Circumstance, Susie Berry riding Clever Trick, Austin O'Connor riding Isazsa, Aoife Clark riding Sportsfield Freelance \ Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times
Olympic Games
Susie Berry with Wellfields Lincoln, Sarah Ennis with Action Lady M (ISH), and Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue, were nominated as the team to represent Ireland at the Paris Olympics in July, with Aoife Clark and Sportsfield Freelance as the P Alternate.
The beauty of Chateau de Versailles was unrivalled and was an incredible backdrop for the competition. In a first for the Olympic format, dressage ran over just one day, and the Irish team lay in 11th after the first phase.
Sarah Ennis and Action Lady M put a disappointing dressage test behind them by jumping a fantastic round across the country, “she was incredible – where the crowds didn’t help in the dressage ring, they actually helped out there,” Ennis declared. An injury upon completion would mean that they would be withdrawn ahead of the show jumping phase and Aoife Clark and Sportsfield Freelance would get called into the team.
Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue put in their usual flawless round around the park. “He’s just a phenomenal horse and I’m beginning to hope he stays around forever,” an elated O’Connor declared. Berry and Wellfield’s Lincoln also posted a clear jumping round, adding just time penalties after an unplanned long route late on course.
The team added a total of 16 faults in the show jumping on the final day, plus the 20 penalties added for substituting a rider, left them in ninth place overall. “I’m disappointed, yes, but I’m also extremely proud of the guys – they gave everything they had to achieve the best possible result, but we just didn’t get the rub of the green,” said Albert post competition. O’Connor jumped an immaculate clear in the second round to finish in 17th place.
Austin O'Connor and Colorado Blue at the Paris Olympic Games \ Tomas Holcbecher
The British team of Tom McEwen, Laura Collett and Ros Canter took gold, ahead of the home nation France in silver. Perhaps one of the stories of the Games was the Japanese team, which featured Irish Sport Horse MGH Grafton Street, taking team bronze even after a horse substitution.
Individually, Germany’s Michael Jung was crowned Olympic champion for the third time in four Games. Australia’s Christopher Burton made his return to eventing this year worthwhile by taking individual silver with Shadow Man, and Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52, took individual bronze.
Five-stars
Irish Sport Horse Cooley Rosalent made it an excellent start to the five-star season for Irish-bred horses, when she won the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event with Oliver Townend.
Cooley Rosalent, a 10-year-old mare bred by Woods Rosbotham from Co Armagh, jumped her way to the top of the podium, adding just 0.4 time penalties cross-country to a dressage score of 31.4. Townend describes her as “one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden”.
The sole Irish representative, Susie Berry and the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Clever Trick, finished in 25th position after adding some time and jumping penalties across the country.
It was a dream MARS Badminton Horse Trials debut for Lucy Latta, as she finished second with RCA Patron Saint. The Wexford native, who combines competing alongside a full-time job, put in an impressive round of cross-country to rise from 46th after dressage to third going into the final phase, adding 0.4 of a time penalty to their dressage score.
Speaking after her round, Latta sang praise of RCA Patron Saint’s ability to keep galloping.
“I knew even when he got tired that once he had the chance to fill his lungs again, he would just stay galloping and jumping.”
RCA Patron Saint, a 13-year-old gelding bred by Richard Ames and owned Lesley Crampton, also finished second in Aston Le Walls CCI4*S in July and fifth in Burnham Market CCI4* this season. Latta closed out the year by winning the Horse & Hound Amateur of the Year award in November.
Pipping Latta at the post was Caroline Powell and the ISH Greenacres Special Cavalier, bred by Michael Callery, who were one of only three combinations to jump clear inside the time on the final day.
Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and home-bred mare Hooney D’Arville topped the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI5* results, following a dramatic final show jumping phase.
Ireland’s Jennifer Kuehnle and Polly Blue Eyes climbed the leaderboard after a phenomenal clear round inside the time around Mike Etherington Smith’s influential cross-country course. An unfortunate two poles on the floor lowered her to seventh in the final leaderboard.
On what was Kuehnle’s debut at five-star level, she was double-handed and her other mount, Sammy Davis Junior, owned by Margaret and Frank Kinsella and Cathal Daniels, added just time penalties in the jumping phases to finish in eighth.
Eventing champions
The start list for Burghley Horse Trials was a bit like a who’s who of eventing combinations, with many of the Olympic competitors opting to run. Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo continue to dominate the sport and added another five-star win to their tally, closely followed by Tim Price and Vitali. Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal rose from 24th after the first phase to finish in eventual third.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue headed the Irish entries and closed out their season with 14th place finish. Ian Cassells and Master Point (ISH) and Susie Berry and Irene Leva, both put in strong performances to finish inside the top 30.
Les 5 Etoiles de Pau had to power through the elements, but it didn’t get in the way of Britain’s Caroline Harris and D-Day, as they secured their first five-star win in only their first season at the level. She headed a world-class field after two phenomenal jumping phases in what was a very soggy weekend.
Harris said that she “had dreamt of winning, but never believed it would actually happen”. She spoke highly of the competitors behind her, previous winner and eventual second Ros Canter and Izilot DHI, “I’m not anywhere even near them, so to have come home having beaten them is quite unbelievable!”
Canter’s fellow Paris Olympic teammate, Tom McEwen finished in third on the Sean Kelly Irish-bred Brookfield Quality. Ireland’s highest placed competitor was Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis.
Ireland had no rider representing us at the MARS Maryland 5 Star this year, so had to settle for an Irish Sport Horse win and that came in the form of Ballaghmor Class (ISH) and Oliver Townend. A supporter of the event from its inception, Townend finally got the win to add to his long list of accolades, after a few near misses at Fair Hill. Bred by the late Noel Hickey, it was Ballaghmor Class’ fourth win at the level.
The combination were in second place after dressage behind home favourites Mai Baum and Tammie Smith, but after a retirement out on cross-country from Mai Baum, Townend sat top of the leaderboard ahead of show jumping. Tim Price recorded another second place on his five-star record, this time with Falco. David Doel and the experienced Galileo Niuewmoed, added one pole in the arena to drop them to eventual third.
Young horses shine
History was made at Blenheim International Horse Trials when Padraig McCarthy and MGH Zabione claimed the first Irish victory in the four-star short course class for eight/nine-year-olds. MGH Zabione is a home-bred Irish Sport Horse that McCarthy owns with Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell.
It was a nail-biting finish as McCarthy edged out overnight leaders and newly minted Irish woman Georgie Goss and Kojak, added 8.8 time penalties to their two phase score - 0.4 penalty too many, which dropped her to second place. MGH Zabione and McCarthy had completed the cross-country with the third fastest time of the day to seal the victory. Naturally, there was some disappointment in the Kojak camp, but Goss also said “he’s an exceptional horse and I’m so, so proud of what he’s done today”.
Padraig McCarthy and MGH Zabaione (ISH) won the CCI-S 4* for Eight and Nine-year-olds at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials \ Nigel Goddard
At Le Lion d’Angers, Danielle McCormick and MGH Hildare Harlequin (ISH) finished best of the Irish in seventh in the seven-year-old section, closely followed by Ian Cassells and Inquisitor (ISH)(TIH) in 10th. Noel Dunne and Kief Rhapsody of Belline finished 19th in the six-year-old section.
Underage teams
As has become custom in recent years, our underage teams delivered on the medal front once again. The Junior team headed to Strzegom and came back with two silver medals. The team of Oleana Cowen, Matthew Love, Alex Connors and Tom Nestor, led by Sue Shortt, claimed team silver, just a mere three penalties off gold. Nestor and Cooley Diamond Dancer also claimed individual silver.
The Pony eventing team, under the guidance of Jane Kinsella, went to Westerstede, where they also took home team silver. The team of Bonnie O’Neill, Jessica O’Ryan, Isabelle Walsh and Carla Williamson finished just behind the French team, who took gold.
The Irish pony eventing team pictured on the podium with team manager Jane Kinsella after winning silver at the FEI European Pony Eventing Championships \ FEI
Home internationals
Ballindenisk International kicked off the home internationals and, as usual, it was well-supported. Storm Straker and Fever Pitch won the CCI4*-L class adding just 0.4 of a time penalty in the show jumping phase to their dressage score.
The CCI4* had close to 40 entries, but it was China’s Alex Hua Tian, who took the top spot on Chicko, ahead of Cork-native, Felicity Ward and Regal Bounty. Eventual Blenheim International eight- and nine-year-old winner, MGH Zabione and Padraig McCarthy won the CCI3*-L class.
Another Ballindenisk winner, who went on to European success, was Tom Nestor and Cooley Diamond Dancer, who won the CCI2*-L in the spring. Sian Coleman and Diamond Mistress added another one for the home nation by winning the CCI2*-S.
Millstreet International is a firm favourite for both Irish and foreign riders and this year proved no different. The previously mentioned Irish victory in the Nations Cup was backed up by Sam Watson and Ballyneety Rocketman winning the CCI4*-L.
With only half as many time faults as his competitors, Watson propelled himself to the top of the leaderboard and jumped a great clear round on the final day to seal the win.
Sam Watson and Ballyneety Rocketman on their way to winning the CC14*-L at Millstreet International 2024 \ Tadhg Ryan / Bit-Media
Australia’s Christopher Burton, returning to the sport with the aim of competing at the Olympic Games, won the CCIO4*-S class aboard his eventual Olympic individual silver mount, Shadow Man. Highest placed Irish rider was Ian Cassells aboard Kelly’s Quality (ISH).
The first of two internationals at Kilguilkey House saw Emily Young-Jamieson take top honours in the CCI4*-L class on OBOS Nidge, marginally ahead of Ireland’s Patrick Whelan and Altitu. In the CCI4*-S class, it was Britain’s Caroline Harris and Cooley Mosstown taking the honours with veteran four-star duo Daragh Byrne and Kilcannon Ramiro in second.
A month later, riders returned to the Mallow venue, but with the clash with the Olympics, entries were slightly lower. Robbie Kearns recorded his first win at CCI4*-L level with Very Dignified (ISH). The CCI4*-S honours went to veteran partnership Classic IV and Kirsty Chabert, the only combination to beat the clock on the cross-country. Chabert doubled up by winning the CCI3*-S class on Hannerina SSF. Irish favourite Rioghan Rua and Cathal Daniels finished in second place.
It’s second time running an international, Lisgarvan House certainly have made their mark on the calendar, with many foreign riders returning. Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall won from the front of a 50-horse strong CCI4*-S class. Grace Cooper and Cedarmount Cavalier won the CCI4*-L class, where they were the only finishers.
A winner in 2023, Laura Collett left the Carlow venue this year with a first and third in the CCI3*-L class with C-let’s Dance Van De Beemd and To Kalo Arlo respectively.
Closing out the home internationals, in conditions similar to previous year, Ballindenisk battled their way through the weekend, but eventually abandoned Sunday’s cross-country. Great Britain’s Ben Way and his horse Gun Law secured the win in the CCI4*-L after a clear round in the show jumping arena.
It was an Irish one-two-three in the CCI4*-S class, where Ian Cassells added another international victory to his name, this time with Millridge Atlantis. Robbie Kearns and Chance Encounter VII followed in second, with Sam Watson and Ballyneety Rocketman rounding out the top three.