AACHEN’S five-star show last week not only saw Irish show jumpers securing an incredible win in their Nations Cup competition (as reported in the July 6th edition), individual show jumpers also brought home a haul of ribbons and, not to be outdone, Irish eventers also gave a great account of themselves with a podium finish for the team in the CCIO4*-S Nations Cup against tough opposition.

Dressage and show jumping phases both took place last Friday at the prestigious German venue, with Joseph Murphy and Calmaro securing the best of the Irish dressage scores of 30.90; next best was Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis on 33.10, followed by Austin O’Connor and Isazsa (35.10) and Sam Watson and Ballyneety Rocketman (40.00). None of the Irish team were clear in the show jumping phase, with each of them incurring four faults. At the end of the day, Dag Albert’s Irish team sat in fifth place of the eight teams competing. At that stage, Ireland were on a score of 111.100, with Great Britain holding the lead on 96.300.

A brilliant cross-country performance improved on Ireland’s team position, and on the individual placings too. Cassells performed best of the Irish across the country, incurring just 3.2 time penalties to give him a final score of 40.30. Murphy wasn’t far behind, with 5.6 time penalties and a final score of 40.50. Next best was Watson with 13.20 time penalties for a finishing score of 57.20, while O’Connor incurred 20 jumping penalties as well as 25.20 time penalties on the cross-country, finishing on a score of 84.30.

Collectively, this put the team on a score of 138.000 to move up two places on the leaderboard and secure a podium place in third. Britain claimed victory on 112.800, ahead of USA in second on 123.700.

Individually, Ian Cassells was best of the Irish with Millridge Atlantis (ISH), a 10-year-old gelding by Dinan Cascaletto out of Kereen Sue by Warrenstown You 2, bred by Sean O’Loughlin in Co Kilkenny and owned by Fiona Leahy and Gerry Leahy, taking 11th place. They were just ahead of Joseph Murphy in 12th with Calmaro.

Joseph Murphy riding Calmaro (IRL) in the cross-country for the CCIO4*-S - SAP-Nations Cups at CHIO Aachen 2024, where they finished 12th individually \ Equus Pix

Sam Watson finished in 23rd with Ballyneety Rocketman (ISH), a 10-year-old stallion by Diamond Discovery out of Ballyneety Macrocke by Errigal Flight, bred by James Hickey in Co Limerick and owned by Hannah and Sam Watson. Meanwhile, Austin O’Connor placed 34th aboard Isazsa.

Show jumping

There was a strong Irish presence in the winning line-up of last Wednesday’s five-star 1.45m class, with Denis Lynch taking the runner-up spot with a super performance on board Cornets Iberio, closely followed by Shane Sweetnam on Irandole Du Flot in third. Cian O’Connor rode Fox Chapel into seventh place. The class was won by Richard Vogel (GER) on Phenyo van het Keysersbos.

O’Connor then took fourth place in the five-star 1.60m class with Olympics-bound Maurice, when the pair jumped double clear with a jump-off time of 44.73. From a start list of 45, just 12 jumped clear to proceed to the jump-off, with only seven remaining fault-free second time out. An on form Vogel rode Cepano Baloubet to win the class in a time of 42.44.

As reported last week, Thursday saw Team Ireland claim a fantastic victory in the Nations Cup. Proving best of the 10 teams taking part, they were the only team to finish on a zero score – an incredible and confidence-building result on the run-up to the Olympic Games!

In Friday’s one-star 1.35m Young Rider class, Tom Wachman took the runner-up position with Obora’s Laura. The pair kept the fences standing in a time of 69.57 seconds, but Dutch rider Siebe Leemans on Karamella stopped the clock on 68.17 to take the win.

Fresh from his Nations Cup success the previous night, O’Connor just missed out on another win, this time riding the 10-year-old mare Fox Chapel, when they were runners-up in the five-star 1.45m Speed and Handiness competition, jumping clear in a time of 64.17. Vogel was unbeatable yet again, taking another win when last in on Phenyo van het Keysersbos, jumping clear in a lightening-quick time of 61.21 seconds.

Sunday’s one-star 1.40m Young Rider class saw Wachman and Obora’s Laura taking third place with a double clear in 43.61 seconds. Leemans (NED) and Karamella were once again the winners (42.20), with German rider Tony Stormanns on Donjon d’Asschaut taking second place (42.93).

In the five-star 1.45m class, Bertram Allen and Morice FZ placed seventh of the 29 on the start list, jumping clear in 69.69 seconds. Britain’s Robert Whitaker won the class with Evert in a time of 64.97.

Best of the Irish in Sunday’s Grand Prix was O’Connor, who placed 10th with Fermoy, with four faults in the first round, although clear in the second. Only two riders finished with triple clears: Germany’s Andre Thieme on DSP Chakaria in first (39.77) and USA’s McLain Ward on Ilex in second (41.02).