THE Irish youth show jumping teams were out in force in Hagen, Germany, last week, where this year’s edition of the famous ‘Future Champions’ show ensured that those who had forgotten to pack wellies, waterproofs, t-shirts, shorts, sunglasses and sunscreen found themselves ill-prepared for what the 2024 summer continues to hurl at us, both here and abroad!

Undampened, the Irish U18, U16 and U14 teams made it a staggering three out of three wins in the Nations Cup classes.

Action kicked off on Wednesday with the CSIOJ Juniors opening class, where Emily Moloney and Temple Alice, Gary Dooley and CSF Olympic Jewel and Cian McMunn with Lisboy Emerald all jumped faultless rounds.

Thursday saw the first of the CSIOP Pony classes and the best of the Irish here was James Derwin on board Milchem Original, when he finished second, however the Irish were very strong, with Lily Tunney and Fireman, Jack Kent and Double Pleasure, Annie Boland with both K-Little Hero and Candy Coco, Senan Reape with Fernando and Ruben Foley with Cracher all jumping clear rounds, leaving chef d’equipe Gary Marshall with some difficult decisions to make.

James Brennan and MHS I’m The One were the best placed of the Irish in the CSIOJ two-phase, finishing eighth, with Coen Williams and Conthanja close behind in 11th.

The CSIOCh Children On Horses opening class saw a podium finish for Ciara Cash and Carnaval Cocktail, with Daisy O’Dea and Corraghoe Bounce, Charlie Flynn and Elia and Robbie Sheehan with Fubalia also keeping a clean sheet.

Nations Cup treble

The first of the Nations Cup classes was held on Friday and James Kernan’s junior team of Gary Dooley and CSF Olympic Jewel (0-0), James Brennan and MHS Im The One (0-4), Emily Moloney and Temple Alice (0-0) and Coen Williams with Conthanja (0-DNS) managed to follow up on their win at the same venue last year, with a dominant display over Germany in second and the Netherlands in third.

Emily Moloney and Gary Dooley delivered two of just five double clears in the class. Added to their strong second place in Sentower in April, the team is well-placed in the series overall.

On Saturday, Gary Marshall’s pony team followed up on their win in Sentower and podium finishes in both Compiegne and Zuidwolde by taking another win, just as they did 12 months ago in Hagen. Senan Reape and Fernando (1-0), Ruben Foley and Cracher (1-0), Lily Tunney with Fireman (0-0) and James Derwin with Rincoola Babog (8-0) finished on a team score of two, just two penalties ahead of Britain in second and Germany in third.

The Irish pony team of James Derwin, Ruben Foley, Senan Reape and Lily Tunney stand top of the podium after winning the FEI CSIOP Nations Cup in Hagan \ Dirk Ruechel

Lily Tunney and Fireman repeated her result from Sentower, when delivering one of just four double clears in the class. Afterwards, Gary Marshall described the performance as ‘outstanding’. With team Britain on a score of four faults and Ireland carrying just two time faults, anchor rider James Derwin was under pressure to deliver a clear round second time out to take the win after an uncharacteristic eight faults in the first round. According to Marshall: “He went in with pressure and he delivered with pressure. Lily Tunney was also fantastic, delivering two foot-perfect rounds. The time was very tight and it was influential.”

Big and technical

The Children on Horses team knew that they had a lot to live up to, and they didn’t disappoint, following up on their win in Compiegne back in April. Charlie Flynn and Elia (4-4-0), Ted Fagan and Con Sol, (0-0-0), Robbie Sheehan and Fubalia (0-0-0) and Sam Widger with Jerenice Dysenbeeck Z (4-0-0) had to hold their nerve in a thrilling jump-off, where they all delivered faultless performances against the Swiss with the home nation of Germany in third.

Ted Fagan and Robbie Sheehan produced two of the four triple clears in the class. Speaking afterwards, James Kernan was thrilled with his teams: “The tracks were big and technical, but the two teams were sensational. We’ll be heading into the European Championships with two wins, so all we need now is a bit of luck.”

One of the fun features of the show was the ‘mobile podium’, where the winners did a lap of honour in a large trailer, resplendent with their sashes, and Team Ireland certainly put their best foot forward in Hagen in their new Irish gear, kindly sponsored by both Showjumping Ireland, where all of these young stars have cut their teeth in pony classes, and TRM, one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of equine supplements.

Remarkable Tunney

After the excitement of the Nations Cups, Coen Williams and Conthanja were back in the prizes in the Junior Grand Prix with the winning time, but a pole in the jump-off left them in fifth place.

Sunday saw the Grand Prix classes for Children on Horses, ponies and young riders, but from the Irish point of view, the day was all about Lily Tunney and her remarkable pony, Fireman. Having won the individual class and the Grand Prix in 2023, Fireman showed how much he loves Hagen, when he followed up on Friday’s double clear by taking the win in the Grand Prix again in a dominant display, where the pair led from the front after being drawn first to go.

Speaking afterwards, Lily’s father, Gabriel described how the partnership has built up over the last few years: “Fireman is his own person and you have to work with him. It was Niamh McEvoy who originally produced him and we are grateful that the McEvoy family trusted us with him. He is a very special pony and we are blessed to have him.”