THE second WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy was held at the Longines Tops International Arena at Valkenswaard in The Netherlands last week, with young horses representing 19 studbooks battling it out to be crowned champion in each of the age groups – five-year-old, six-year-old, seven-year-old, eight-year-old and, new for this year, the nine-year-old stallion category.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the performance of the all-female Irish Sport Horse team, who claimed the runner-up position in Sunday’s seven-year-old final.

Lt. Michaeli Byrne on Dunboyne (ISH) (Elvis Ter Putte (BWP) x Wrenwood Bambilino (ISH) x Sibon W (KWPN)), bred by Stacey Babes in Co Dublin and owned by the Minister for Defence, were first in for the Irish Sport Horse team. They incurred four faults on course, but finished within the time allowed.

Molly Hughes Bravo and HHS Ice Flo (ISH) (Iceman De Muze (BWP) x HHS Go With The Flo (ISH) x Cyrano 145 (HOLST)), bred by Kevin Meagher in Co Tipperary and owned by Maurice Devlin from Co Tyrone, were next in and they jumped a super clear round, much to the delight of the Irish fans in attendance.

Emma O’Dwyer on Dougie Drea (ISH) (Ard VDL Douglas (KWPN) x Rainbows and Butterflies (ISH) x Bolivar (ISH)), bred by Victoria Foster in Co Offaly and owned by Emma O’Dwyer and Heather Blair, were last in for the team and they rode a fast round, but incurred four faults, putting the team on a final score of eight faults for second place, overtaking the Danish Warmblood studbook.

The Oldenburg Studbook took the win with a score of four faults, while Molly Hughes Bravo with HHS Ice Flo (ISH) won the individual competition.

Sven Hadley and Maximum Numero Too HSH won both six-year-old qualifiers final at the WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy at Valkenswaard \ Stefano Grasso/WBFSH 2024

Five-year-olds

Meanwhile, the Irish Sport Horse team of Gemma Phelan with Bugatti (ISH), Richard Kerins with LKS Florence (ISH) and Michael Pender with HHS Kildare (ISH) placed ninth of 11 teams in the five-year-old final at Valkenswaard.

There were clear rounds from both HHS Kildare (ISH) (Je T’Aime Flamenco (BWP) x ABC Tiny Dancer (ISH) x Mermus R (KWPN)), bred by Pat Kehoe in Co Carlow and owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd from Co Kilkenny and LKS Florence (ISH) (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve (BWP) x Lady Cougar (ISH)[TIH] x Cougar (ISH)[TIH]), bred and owned by Breda Perrin from Co Roscommon, while Bugatti (ISH) (Brunetti 6 (Westf) x Oakville Clover (ISH) x Clover Flush (ISH)[TIH]), bred by Diana Warrington in Co Kildare and owned by Gemma Phelan from Co Waterford, incurred 25 faults. The Danish Warmblood team claimed victory on a final score of four faults.

Six-year-olds

Sven Hadley had a great show at Valkenswaard on his mounts, particularly his six-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion, Maximum Numero Too HSH (Aganix Du Seigneur (SBS) x Couple Of Diamonds (ISH) x Numero Uno (KWPN)), bred by Eamon McArdle in Co Monaghan and owned by Hadley Sport Horses in Co Galway. Together, the pair won both of the six-year-old qualifiers and they also helped the Irish Sport Horse team into fourth place, accompanied by Richard Kerins riding Realteens Orestus (ISH) (Orestus (KWPN) x Realteen (ISH)[TIH] x Cruising (ISH)[TIH]), bred and owned by Sean Keyes and Jennifer Crowley in Co Roscommon, and Michael Pender on board HHS Othello (ISH) (SIEC Livello (HOLST) x GCS Athena (ISH) x Vigo D’Arsouilles (BWP)), bred by Eoin Brennan in Co Kilkenny and owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd, Co Kilkenny. Each of the three combinations had one fence down, so the team finished on 12 faults for fourth place. The Selle Francais team won on eight faults.

Eight-year-olds

Jack Ryan made a great start to the show on Thursday, when winning the opening eight-year-old qualifier with the Irish Sport Horse DSH Lucky Junior (BBS McGregor (ISH) x Dshlyi (ISH)), bred and owned by Seamus Drea. There were 47 starters in the class representing 10 different studbooks, with 24 of them managing to jump double clear.

Time was of the essence and Ryan’s time of 26.38 seconds could not be beaten; the nearest challenger was Germany’s Marcel Schneider on Chucky PS, representing the Springpferdezuchtverband Oldenburg-International e.V. (OS), who finished second in 27.18.

Success

There was more success for Hadley, this time riding the Belgian Warmblood stallion, Phenomene Bleu VDM [Diamant de Semilly x Nabab de Reve] to finish runners up in the Nine-year-old stallions 1.40m class. Having ridden an accurate and speedy round (28.29 seconds), the pair had taken the lead, but they were nudged into second place by Ronnie Jones (GBR) riding the KWPN stallion, Key West (27.68).

Hadley also won Thursday’s six-year-old 1.30m two-phase class on board Maximum Numero Too HSH (ISH). From the 67 on the start list, 30 jumped double clear, with Hanley and his mount the fastest of these in 24.22 seconds. France’s Gwenole Le Guen finished close behind on the Selle Français mare Illiz de Plabenn (24.39).

The eight-year-old 1.45m Speed class saw a third-place finish for Denis Lynch riding Four Seasons (AES), while Michael Pender rode HHS Cyprus (ISH) to win the eight-year-old Final, where he was the best of the 24 starters.

Shane Breen opened Saturday’s Nine-year-old stallion 1.45m final riding Just Special (I’m Special de Muze) for the Anglo European Studbook, delivering a smooth round, incurring just four faults to finish in fourth place.

The consolation class for eight-year-olds saw a third place finish for the Irish Sport Horse, LVS Goldrush H (Stakkato Gold x Arko III), ridden by Ethen Ahearne in 69.75.

In the nine-year-old stallion 1.45m Consolation class, Hadley rode Phenomene Blue VDM, owned by Hadley Sport Horses Ltd, into third place for the Belgian Warmblood Horse. The pair crossed the finish line in the fastest time, but four faults deprived them of a higher placing.

Hadley secured another win in the six-year-old 1.35m class riding Maximum Numero Too HSH to claim points for the Irish Sport Horse studbook, finishing clear in a time of 67.10 seconds.

Excitement

Sunday saw the final day of the WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy in Valkenswaard and the excitement was electric as the world’s top studbooks went head-to-head to see who would claim victory in the Five, Six and Seven-year-old Finals.

The final CSI2* Medium Tour competition became an Irish party, with six Irish riders in the top 10, including Michael Pender, who won the class riding Highcross Violet. Of the 53 combinations, 17 proceeded to the jump-off round, with this Irish Sport Horse mare faring best. The 13-year-old grey jumped smoothly, stopping the clock in 36.38 seconds.

This proved too fast for Belgium’s Kasper de Boeck, who crossed the finish line in 37.54 seconds with 14-year-old BWP gelding Kiarado (Diarado x Coreggio). Third place went to Jack Ryan and the Zangersheide mare Soblensky vh Scheefkasteel Z (Sir Obolensky Z x Diamant de Semilly), with fourth going to Shane Breen on BP Arctic Blue.

The very last competition, the CSI2* Grand Prix, was a wonderful conclusion to the CIS2* in Valkenswaard, with Max Wachman on Tipperary placing sixth.

As the final day of the 2024 season at the Longines Tops International Arena drew to a close, spirits were high. All eyes now turn to 2025, as the venue once again is set to host another schedule of elite equestrian competitions.