Proud Sweetnam parents in Geneva

THERE were no happier parents than Jerry and Maria Sweetnam in Geneva last weekend, when their son Shane excelled on Sunday to take third in the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix on the superb CSF James Kann Cruz (ISH).

There is a hardly a show in the world that the Kanturk couple have not been to support Shane who was outstanding all week to collect over €200,000 in prize money.

Jerry admitted: “It has been a fantastic show for Shane. We are still pinching ourselves… the Grand Prix was unbelievable, great excitement. We came on Wednesday and stayed right through. My wife Marie and I were in Florida during November and we return again for the month of March to Florida.”

Maria added with a laugh: “Everybody must think we are never at home. Geneva was so exciting and we are delighted for Shane and the owners. It has been a fantastic week.”

Among the many other familiar faces at the show were Barry O’Connor, Marcus Swail, Taylor Vard and Irish team chef d’equipe Michael Blake. François Mathy Jr, Peter Weinberg, Jos Lansink, Denis Lynch and Mark McAuley, who also won a five-star class, were all there with family members.

Wachman’s dreams

MAX Wachman, who turned 19 earlier this month, excelled in the Under 25 1.40m Land Rover speed class on opening day at Geneva, finishing in third place with Quintini (Quintender x Cassini II) and taking overall eighth in the 1.45m Grand Prix Land Rover on Saturday.

He was delighted to be in Geneva to watch the Rolex Top 10 final.

“To witness the Top 10 live at the show was something special; King Edward with Henrik and Jolly Jumper with Simon were just incredible. I can only dream that someday I will be good enough to get into the top 10!”

As Max jets off to Florida with his Coolmore Showjumping team for the winter circuit, he added: “Geneva is an amazing show, so it was a privilege to be competing here.

“It’s great that big shows like Geneva put on Under-25 classes which gives younger riders a chance to compete and gain experience. They are competitive and I am very happy with the way Quintini performed through the week.”

Mayo’s Ciaran Nallon was in the money taking 12th on opening day with Eddy Schopfer’s bay mare Dolce Vita Des Ouches who was unfortunate to tip a fence in Saturday’s final.

Business and pleasure

SLIGO horse breeder Michael Doherty attended CHI Geneva with Charlotte Smets from Ostend, Belgium. Both were working part-time for the popular stats, performance and breeding company Hippomundo.

Michael said: “This show has been amazing all round. To have horses for this level and put on such amazing competitions with top prize money is fantastic. I am delighted for the Connolly family, breeders of CSF James Kann Cruise (Kannan x Cruising), they should be very proud.

“The Rolex Grand Prix was an outstanding class, seeing HH Azur winning with an emotional McLain Ward, and Martin Fuchs with Leone Jei taking second and our very own Irish star on the podium was memorable. Everyone in Ireland is so delighted for the Connolly and Sweetnam family. What a horse for only nine years old.”

John Roche enjoying retirement

FORMER FEI director of show jumping John Roche and his Swiss-born wife Madeline were both guests at CHI Geneva last weekend.

John explained: “This is one of the best shows in the world! The public are fantastic, they follow every single horse with great interest. The excitement is incredible.

“Show director Alban Poudret does a great job organising this, he is a total perfectionist. I rode in Geneva when the old CSIO was in the city and I was competing for the Irish army team.”

Madeleine, also a former show jumper added: “This is a show for everybody; for spectators, for horsey and non horsey people, for breeders… it is a gathering of everyone who loves horses.

“Young and old make this their annual pilgrimage to see the best in the world indoors, it is the end of year finale and everyone gathers under the one roof. We are delighted to be here again.”

Boleybawn Prince (18) keeps winning

BOLEYBAWN Prince, the 18-year-old Brian McDonnell-bred Colin Diamond x Clover Hill bay gelding, ridden by French eventer Maxime Livio, collected 5,000 CHF at CHI Geneva on Friday from 17 starters. The competition which used both the main arena and international warm up brought the house down as spectators stamped the grandstand floors when Boleybawn Prince flew around in 150.75.

Kildare-based Cathal Daniels, who drove himself to Geneva with his Irish-bred Badminton 2023 hopeful, CDS Cairniew Romolu (Omar x Ballinvella), finished fifth when helped by his girlfriend, also an event rider, Jennifer Kuehnle who was standing in as a groom for the weekend. Cathal explained: “My horse went brilliant, I have him two years and I am hoping to compete him at Badminton next year. He is a potential major championship horse.”

Kilcandra Ocean Power (BGS Ocean View x Bonnie Prince), the chesnut nine-year-old bred by Kilcandra Stud in Wicklow, finished sixth overall for former German Olympic champion Michael Jung. The horse, owned by himself with Brigitte and Joachim Jung, has won €26,251 in his career including the CCSI3*-L two years ago. He is a Goresbridge Go for Gold graduate.

Grand Slam collaboration

LINDA Southern, founder and co-owner of Spruce Meadows in Calgary, host to another leg of the Rolex Grand Prix, was a guest in Geneva with Chief Sports Director and commentator Ian Ellison. Spruce Meadow, The Dutch Masters in S’Hertogonbosh, Aachen in Germany and CHI Geneva are part of the Rolex Grand Slam series, founded in 2013.

Talks began on Monday this week in Geneva with Alban Poudret, Chief Sports Director of CHI Geneva, Linda Southern, Ian Ellison and the directors of the Grand Slam series and title sponsor. Ian Ellison stated: “This is another historic moment, we are moving into our 10th year and we could not be more delighted.”