Curran is September SOTM

CONGRATULATIONS to Captain Geoff Curran who was voted The Irish Field/Gain Equine Nutrition Star of the Month for September. The Army rider was crowned the 2020 National Champion at Portmore in September with the Minister for Defence’s Irish Sport Horse Glengarra Wood. Well done, Geoff!

CPBS elections

The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society (CPBS) council election was held at Claregalway Community Centre last week and the following candidates were deemed elected: Eimear Coleman (Munster), Joanne Hunter (Ulster), Pat Geoghegan (Leinster), Martin Coyne, Gearoid Curran, Sean Carey and Henry O’Toole (Connacht).

Petition against banning of top hats

UP to 150 international dressage riders have signed a petition asking the FEI to allow top hats to be worn at the highest level. The FEI have proposed a rule change that state protective headgear must be worn at all times while mounted. The rule will be finalised at the FEI General Assembly later this month. Commenting to Horse & Hound, an FEI spokesperson said: “The petition was sent to the FEI by International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC) President Kyra Kyrklund last week. However, as the FEI did not receive any request to change this rule during the period of the rules consultation process, neither from the IDRC nor national federations, the item has not been included on the general assembly agenda for a vote. It is now too late to submit anything new for the 2020 general assembly due to statutory deadlines to which we need to adhere.”

Win for Pender in Portugal

IRELAND’s Mikey Pender beat 130 competitors on way to victory in Thursday’s 1.45m two-phase class at the three-star show in Vilamoura, Portugal. He rode Marion Hughes’ home-bred HHS Fast Forward (Heritage Fortunus x Cavalier Royale) to the fastest double clear in 30.47 seconds.