TIPPERARY has produced more than its fair share of extraordinary horsemen who found fame and fortune on the world stage but none more so than Tommy Wade and his son Alan. While Tommy was Ireland’s – or possibly Europe’s – most famous show jumping rider, sweeping all before him on Dundrum, Alan has gone on to become one of the world’s leading course designers whose work is to be seen in Grand Prix arenas wherever horses jump at the highest level.

Only those who have lived through that period (and I am one of those) can have any concept of the fame and hero worship enjoyed by Tommy Wade and Dundrum back in the sixties. With only one TV channel and all major showjumping featured on prime-time coverage, the pair were nothing short of national heroes. I vividly remember the hushed tones of BBC commentator Dorian Williams as Dundrum approached the HOYS Wembley wall at 7ft 2’’! What must have only added to the story was that the pair were underdogs, frowned on by the Irish showjumping elite who, at that time, were dominated by McKee Barracks and the army jumping team.

The 1963 renewal of the RDS saw Tommy and Dundrum just becoming an unstoppable force, winning every international competition in the RDS and finishing a perfect round by being part of the first mixed army/civilian Aga Khan team and winning the famed trophy for Ireland. The team consisted of The Honorable Diana Conolly Carew (Ballymore), Capt. Billy Ringrose (Loch an Easpaig), Seamus Hayes (Goodbye) and Tommy Wade (Dundrum). Tommy previously had the ride on Goodbye, but a financial agreement couldn’t be reached with the owners. It was 14 years since Ireland had won the Aga Khan with the competition being dominated by teams led by the D’Inzeos from Italy or Britain’s David Broome and Harvey Smith.

Tommy Wade and the great Dundrum at action at Dublin Horse Show \ Courtesy of RDS Archives

Previously all Aga Khan teams were exclusively military riders but by then, McKee just didn’t have the horsepower or the manpower to mount an international challenge on their own, but were very reluctant to admit this reality.

Alan recalls the story. “1963 was the first time civilian riders were allowed to compete for Ireland and to win the Aga Khan in 1963 was huge moment in their career. Tommy won 13 individual classes on different horses, including all five international classes with Dundrum at the show.”

In 1967, Tommy again featured on the winning team and as last to go, the team needed him clear to win. There was a good stiff upright just after the water when horses were flat out and Dundrum gave it a right good rattle. As the crowd groaned the heavy pole jumped at least six inches but amazingly settled back in the cups. TV commentator Michael O’Hehir remarked “that belt could be heard all the way back to Cashel”. Such was the cheering it almost lifted the roof of the Anglesey Stand.

Humble origins

But let’s start at the beginning. The Wades from Camus near Cashel had been in horses for longer than anyone could remember but at a fairly modest level. Young Tommy had made something of a name for himself in ponies jumping the coloured Sheila and Croguemore right up to RDS level with some degree of success. James Wade (Tommy’s dad) dealt fairly extensively and would regularly put a load of horses together. Alan Wade takes up the story.

“James Kernan’s grandfather used to buy a lot of horses from Camus – all types of horses by the lorry load and one evening Tommy tried to sell Dundrum to him and even had him loaded on the back of the lorry to fill the load but it was spotted that he was too small, and they had to take him down.”

Abbeyleix was Dundrum’s first major show, following year to Dublin Spring Show, won two novice classes plus won championship with three clear rounds. At the same show, Ballingaddy won two classes but faulted at the double bank in the championship.”

Dundrum was out of a Connemara mare brought to Tipperary by Jack Ryan (Larry) from the fair at Clifden. She was in foal to a TB sire but this totally unknown stallion was by the famed Hyperion. In any case, the foal grew up and was broken to the traces as a small carter. He was passed on to Mrs Tierney who ran a hardware and fuel store in Dundrum and his role was to draw loose coal from the station back to Tierney’s yard. On his maiden voyage, he ran away with the cart spilling the coal and breaking a shaft, so he had to go. A swap was organised with James Wade with some money thrown in for a more placid cart horse.

Tommy Wade with the great Dundrum

Some use had to be found for him so young Tommy was thrown up and off to a local gymkhana (probably Boherlahan) where the jumping arena was in the local GAA pitch which was surrounded by chain link fencing. The sound of the starting bell over the tannoy sent all the wrong messages to Dundrum and he promptly took off jumping the chain link like a hurdle. “Well,” said James Wade, ”at least we know he can jump.”

Amazing talent

Today’s show jumpers have no concept how difficult it was for an individual with no backing from the establishment to make their way in the world of international show jumping.

The story is told by the Breens, John and Shane (Tommy was Shane’s mentor) of Tommy jumping in the Hamburg puissance. With the wall at 7ft 2” and Tommy, Harvey Smith and Nelson Pessoa were still in with clears, the judges offered to divide. While Nelson and Harvey agreed, Tommy was determined to jump off. As luck would have it, he was third to go and both his opposition had refused so all he had to do was attempt the wall. Tommy recalled, “I set him up well back and he galloped flat out and cleared with a foot to spare.”

The expenses for the trip home were secure. What makes the story even more remarkable is that Tommy had developed a completely unique style, riding short and sitting up on the horse neck, not unlike a flat race jockey. The family still have his saddle which closely resembles a racing saddle.

Alan recalls a story as he was growing up. “Tommy was jumping the coloured Rolling Hills in the speed class in Dublin… a brilliant speed horse but if he got it wrong, it was a disaster. At the water they fell and Tommy was knocked out and being tended to by the Red Cross. His brother Ned in the pocket rushed in as Tommy was all tanked up.”

‘Tanked up’ in this case meant he was carrying a large wad (tank) of ready cash. He had just sold a couple of horses and it was his ammunition to buy several more young horses. Ned’s concern for his brother was only equalled by his desire to ensure the safety of the cash. Remember, nearly all sales were carried out exclusively in cash in those pre-card days.

Other successes for Tommy as a rider include winning at almost every major international show, including the King George V Cup at the White City, the Vaux Trophy at Newcastle, the Boylan Trophy at Ballsbridge, the Grand Prix at Brussels and top prize at the Horse of the Year Show.

I asked Alan to recall the major stars of that era. “Definitely Seamus Hayes (Tommy always said he was the best he had ever seen), Leslie Fitzpatrick, Tommy Brennan, Ned Campion, Iris Kellett, Billy Ringrose, Diana Connelly Carew. In England and Europe it was Harvey Smith, Ted Williams, David Broome, the Dinzeo Bros, Mancinelli, Winkler and Nelson Pessoa.”

Top accolades

In 1961 Dundrum became Supreme Champion at Wembley HOYS when he cleared a 7”2” Puissance wall. After spectacular wins at five major competitions at Dublin Horse Show, he became Ireland’s hero by making sporting history.

Following those victories, Tommy was given civic receptions in Dundrum, Cashel and Boherlahan. He was awarded the title of Sports Star of the Year for 1963.

He was a particular friend of Harvey Smith, both self-made men, who had more than their shares of run-ins with the establishment. Millstreet’s Noel C. Duggan who would have jumped at top level in Tommy’s era, recalls driving Harvey down to Goulds Cross to see Tommy during his retirement and sitting enthralled for hours as they recalled their glory days.

I asked Alan did Tommy receive many tempting offers for Dundrum. “At his first Horse of the Year show in the UK, Ted Williams brought Gonda Butters and her mother from South Africa to purchase Dundrum but Tommy wouldn’t sell him.

“Buster Harty then introduced John A. Galvin (USEF team supporter and owner of Snowbound and San Lucas) to Tommy at Dublin Horse Show and Mr Galvin placed a blank cheque in front of him for Dundrum, with the only condition that he move to USA and continue to compete with Dundrum.”

The late 60s saw Dundrum missing a season and he returned to the national circuit in 1969. His final show was Scariff, always run in September, where he won the championship. Rider and horse retired from competition together as Tommy had developed back trouble.

Good horses

I asked Alan about Tommy’s career post-competition when he held a trainer’s licence. “As well as a racehorse trainer, he was involved in purchasing and producing of a lot of good horses over his lifetime – racehorses from Davy Lad (Cheltenham Gold Cup) to West Tip (Grand National) to Von Trappe to Pandorama (Lexus Chase) to Shutthefrontdoor (Irish Grand National). Show jumpers from Rockbarton to Sure Coin (Ballyseyr Twilight, Dublin Grand Prix and King George V winner), to three-day eventer Mighty Nice (silver medal winner at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games).”

But his connection with show jumping was far from over. Tommy became the Irish chef d’equipe and masterminded 30 Nations Cup victories, a gold medal at the European Championships in 2001 and at the World Equestrian Games in 2002 when Dermott Lennon won individual gold. All these trips abroad as chef d’equipe were carried out exclusively at his own cost as in those days there were no expenses forthcoming from official sources.

Course designing

Alan takes up the running, quietly describing his own remarkable career as a course designer. “I started helping my father at Holycross shows from a noticeably young age, this led to helping him and Roberta Malcolmson at other local shows in the Tipperary/Waterford region. In Ireland I would have trained with Dad, then Pat Hutchinson, Avril Busteed, Tony Hurley, Brian Henry, Paul Duffy Snr and Steve Hickey.”

I asked Alan when he came on board for the Dublin Horse Show at the RDS? “The appointment as main course designer for the Dublin Horse Show is a yearly appointment decided by the Equestrian Committee in the RDS. My first year as main course designer was 2009.

“The previous years from 2000 in the main arena I had assisted and learned from Brian Henry, Paul Duffy Snr, Frank Rothenberger (Germany), Avelino Rodriguez Miravalles (Spain), Linda Allen (USA), Frédéric Cottier (France), Uliano Vezzani (Italy) and Rob Jansen (Holland).

Under pressure from me, Alan then listed some of the major events where he has built courses, a veritable Who’s Who of world class show jumping. Here’s a flavour of Alan’s talent:

World Equestrian Games, Tryon USA 2018; World Cup Final, Omaha, USA 2017; USA Nations Cup CSIO5*, Palm Beach Masters 2019, 2020 and Ocala 2016; Rotterdam CSIO5* 2018; Olympia, London CSI-W 5* 2019, 2014; Spruce Meadows Canada CSI 5*, 2016, 2019 ; Global Champions Tour London 2019; North American Junior and Young Rider Championship, Kentucky 2015; USA National Championship and Olympic Trials 2012, PBIEC Wellington Florida; World Top 10 Final Paris 2011.

Does he use modern technology such as CAD (computer aided design) to create virtual courses?

“I use Microsoft Visio Drawing programme for all my finalised course plans. These plans are all exactly to scale and are extremely important especially for indoor shows where you have to be very correct with your plan to fit in the course.”

Finally, I ask him for his top three highlights of his career to date. He does not hesitate with the answer. “World Equestrian Games Tryon 2019; World Cup Final Omaha 2018 and especially, Dublin Horse Show RDS 2009 -– my first time as International Course Designer in Dublin.”

Covid-19 has, at least for the time being, put a stop to jumping, but he hopes when circumstances allow to go to California for The Desert International before moving on to the Palm Beach Masters in Wellington, Florida. No doubt Tommy Wade is looking down and smiling!