FIVE lucky readers of The Irish Field were thrilled to have breakfast with the Irish Aga Khan squad at the InterContinental Hotel in Dublin ahead of the country’s biggest show jumping competition.

Michael Blake and his squad of Shane Sweetnam, Cian O’Connor, Mikey Pender, Michael Duffy and Daniel Coyle, as well as team vet Marcus Swail, joined The Irish Field team, Nicky Logue, general manager of the InterContinental, main sponsor Stephen O’Connor of the Underwriting Exchange and CEO of Horse Sport Ireland Denis Duggan on the eve of the Aga Khan. From over 2,000 entries received, the winners of the competition were Bernie Foley, Emma Galway, Jennifer Power, Anne Condon and Elaine Taaffe.

The prize winners got an exclusive insight into the team ahead of the big competition. Back on the squad again this year with James Kann Cruz after winning 12 months ago, USA-based Corkman Shane Sweetnam was asked if the pressure gets easier.

“It doesn’t get easier. After winning last year, there was an unbelievable buzz so we want to win again this year; there is more pressure on this year to get the job done,” Sweetnam commented. Of his Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz (bred by Patrick Connolly), he added: “I’m lucky to have him, he is very special and hopefully he remembers that tomorrow and gets the job done. He knows how good he is, he loves what he does. He perks up when he goes into the ring, he has another gear and he likes to use it, he is very talented and his brain is one of his biggest assets.”

Also on the winning team last year and three other times in his career was Cian O’Connor who echoed Sweetnam’s sentiment. “I can remember my first cap starting off, I find it only gets harder! When you are in your 20s, you are taking it all in your stride, but now you realise what could go wrong, or the expectation. So I find I need to really get myself focused and be on my best game because it doesn’t happen easily. You are judged in Ireland on how you go in the Aga Khan and in Dublin so it is our opportunity to come home and show our wares to the Irish public.”

Shane Sweetnam and Bernie Foley at The Irish Field's 'Breakfast with the Stars'\ Claire Nash

Rookies

Making his Aga Khan debut on Friday was Galway’s Michael Duffy. He commented: “It is what we have been working towards for years and years. The thing I keep telling myself is that we are here on merit, it didn’t just happen. It is just another show, another week of the year. My mare Cinca, she is straight as a gun barrel, all I have to do now is ride her and if I do that we will be clear!”

Duffy’s family have a huge tradition with the Dublin Horse Show as his grandfather, Paul Snr, designed a lot of the fences you still see in today’s main arena. “Some of the fences here today, my grandfather designed them 30 years ago, the telephone box and others, they are his designs. My grandmother tells a great story that months before Dublin she would have to bring him in at midnight because he would be out with a jigsaw making the wings.

“There is no two ways about it, you ride better when you go into that ring as an Irishman. You kick a bit stronger and pull a bit harder.”

Kildare’s Mikey Pender was also making his Aga Khan debut. “I am very lucky that I have a few very good horses. It’s a very special week this week in Dublin. Like Michael said, we have been planning this for a long time, to get here in good form and here we are. Calais likes what he is doing, I am very lucky, he loves the grass here so hopefully we can get it done.”

Daniel Coyle was fifth man for the squad. “It’s brilliant to be part of the squad and we have a Europeans in two weeks and a lot of Nations Cups still to come this year so hopefully this is the stepping stone to winning everything.

“Derry is still home. I am somewhat of a home bird but I wasn’t able to achieve what I wanted there and thankfully I was clever enough to know that and I needed to broaden my horizons if I wanted to keep up with the rest of the world. As far as the Irish team goes, we are unbeatable in our own right never mind as a team so I thought I need to go and see the rest of the world and that is where I am today.”

Michael Blake was optimistic about his team’s chances, saying: “They all told me they are going to jump double clear. It doesn’t get easier; people think it’s a given and it isn’t! The Swiss look really strong and we have given them a real hard time all year. I am absolutely confident in the four lads we have here. They are really really good, they know what they have to do, nothing will be left to chance and I hope we can get it done.”

Grace, JJ and Jennifer Power at 'Breakfast with the Stars' \ Claire Nash