WEXFORD’S Patrick Hickey was crowned the 2024 National show jumping Champion, following his victory in the final round of the Plusvital Premier Series in Tattersalls last Sunday.

Supported by The Underwriting Exchange and Showjumping Ireland, the class offered a €20,000 prize fund and turned out to be a superb competition.

Nine of Ireland’s top national riders battled it out in glorious sunshine in Tattersall’s beautiful grass arena to decide the title.

Speaking after the win, Hickey said: “I am delighted to have been named National Champion. I wasn’t expecting it. I went up just trying to win the class, I did that and then have earned the points to win the series and do the double on the day is brilliant.

“I was disappointed last weekend in Balmoral to miss out on a place to compete at the five-star show in Dublin. It would have been great, but I’m delighted to have turned it around here today and get this win.

“The horse deserved to win all year, I thought to be honest, things just didn’t go our way in one or two of the jump-offs, so it was great to get it done here today.”

Lucky

Hickey continued: “We were very lucky to get Casago really. Ronan Clarke owns him and we are very thankful to him for letting us have him. I’ve been riding him for just about a year now, just slowly getting him going. We moved up to Grand Prix level at the start of this season and he has barely put a foot wrong.

“I got to see Niamh (McEvoy) go before me, she was very quick, so I knew what I had to do. I think I made up the time going on the long run up the side to the fifth fence, I got a good left-hand turn after that and did eight strides. I went as fast as I could have, I think and, luckily, it was enough on the day.

“He has great balance and the rideability is great. He is elastic and has a great temperament. He is a dream to deal with.

“He is an 11-year-old stallion by Casall, he always tries his best and he has a great heart.

“We have some lovely foals by him, so that’s exciting for the future. He’s been at stud with us for a year now and he has been covering away all summer. Testament to the horse that, alongside that, he has been jumping really well at the same time. He’s very healthy and it shows that he has a great mind to be able to do both.

“A couple of years ago, I went over to my cousin Mark McAuley for a year. I then spent a bit of time in Germany and then went on to Shane Breen in Hickstead.

Unexpected

“I’ve been home since then and myself and my brother William run things together down in Garryrichard, Co Wexford. It’s getting better every year.

“I never expected to become National Champion, having only been home such a short time, but it’s fantastic. It just shows you that, if you get the right horse, anything is possible.

“We’ll head down to Millstreet on Tuesday for the ranking classes. I don’t have a definite plan after that.

“I’d love to get to a couple of three-star shows after Dublin, and there are one or two Nations Cups at the end of the year, which I’d love to be considered for. I was the fifth man in Peelbergen and then decided to stay home and focus on the Premier Series, and that seems to have worked out well.

“As I said, the horse hasn’t really put a foot wrong. We were second in Cavan and second in Mullingar and now, with just a little bit more experience, it all came together for us today.

“I want to thank my brother William and my parents, who are always a great support. My Dad, Denis, is here today, he decided not to turn the hay and come and watch, so he must have had some confidence in me.

“It’s a real team effort, Sam and Robin at home always have the horses looking amazing. It’s great to have that support.

“The Plusvital league has been really enjoyable and competitive. It came right down to the wire today, which is always exciting. We have a high standard of rider here in Ireland, so a league like this was definitely needed.

“Tattersalls is a fantastic venue. The footing was great and the sun shone, which made it even better.

“I will be up and down to watch in Dublin, Mark (McAuley) is riding an old horse of mine (GRS Lady Amaro), which we bred. It’s lovely to watch her.”

Jump-off

A total of 28 combinations started over the 1.50m Tom Holden-designed track. Just 10 managed to answer all the questions correctly to progress to the jump-off.

Hickey proved best of these, guiding Casago II (Casall x Carthago) to the win in 41.86 seconds. The runner-up spot went to Niamh McEvoy riding GBBS’ Dutch-bred gelding Jargon Dn (Zirocco Blue VDL x Indoctro) in 42.24.

Third place went Clem McMahon riding another from the GBBS stable, the French-bred eight-year-old mare Grand Prix DK in 43.03.

Comdt Geoff Curran and the Minister For Defence’s Hawthorn Hill (Cardento x Limmerick), bred by Jerry Quinn, finished fourth in 43.58, while fifth was Cathal Daniels and his own Cappog Tomy (Camiro De Haar Z x S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe), bred by Tommy Reilly.

Francis Connors completed the line-up in sixth aboard his own eight-year-old JM Just a Dream (Toulon x Cavalier Royale), bred by Jimmy Lawler.