Coyle ranked 11th in the world

DERRY’s Daniel Coyle has taken over as the highest ranked Irish show jumping rider in the world.

Coyle has risen two placed this month and is now ranked 11th, one place ahead of Shane Sweetnam who has dropped out of the top 10 to 12th place. Ireland has three more riders in the world’s top 20 – Co Down’s Conor Swail (15th), Wexford’s Bertram Allen (17th) and Offaly’s Darragh Kenny (18th).

Britain’s Oliver Townend, who won Burghley five-star this year, has taken over as the eventing world number one from compatriot Ros Canter who held the position for just one month.

Townend’s illustrious career has seen him hold the top position in the FEI eventing world athlete rankings for a total of 50 months, with a streak of 37 consecutive months at number one.

Exhibition race

EIGHT members of the Irish Pony Club are due to take part in an exhibition race today (Saturday) at the Curragh racecourse following the QuinnBet Handicap, the final race on the main card.

The eight, who all attended the jockeys’ skills course at the Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) in Kildare in early September, will be riding ponies or horses who have been used in Pony Club Branch and/or national competitions during the year.

Those competing include Kildare Branch members Eillie Dillon (OLS Inis Flaith) and her sister Katie (Believe In Miracles), Duhallow’s Will Ladd Finn (Ballynoe Izzy), Co Limerick’s Katelyn Leddin (Prince Teddy), The Kingdom’s Chloe Mangan (Alan Key), Laois’ Mai Monahan (Rosnakill Margo), United’s Emily Mulcahy (Bramblebrough Angus) and Leitrim’s Grace Quinn (Mounthopes Angel).

Kevin Acres

correction

IN last Saturday’s report from the Dressage Ireland National Championships, Margie McLoone stated that the Grand Prix-winning rider, Kevin Acres, had worked with Lars and Caroline Bjoerk at Dollanstown Stud when, in fact, it should have said he worked at Dollantown Stud for Sandra Blake Farrell.

Later this month, Greenogue Equestrian-based Acres is heading over to France as dressage coach for Ian Cassells who has two mounts selected for the World Breeding Eventing Championships for young horses at Le Lion d’Angers. Cassells travels with the six-year-old Greenogue Gigi for the CCI2*-L and the year older Millridge Athos for the CCI3*-L.

Baskin Sport Horses webinar

THE Teagasc ‘Let’s Talk Equine’ free webinars return on Tuesday, October 10th, at 8.30pm. The panellist is John Carey of Baskin Sport Horses who will share his thoughts on breeding, introducing some of his mares while discussing the challenges and opportunities as he sees them, including embracing breeding technologies and forming partnerships with others.

Register, if not already registered, at https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/rural-development/equine/lets-talk-equine-webinar-series/

Connemara Pony October Sales

DUE to high level of entries, the October Connemara Pony Sale in Clifden, Co Galway, will now be a five-day sale commencing on Thursday, October 26th, until Monday, October 30th.

Lt Byrne wins first international

LT Michaeli Byrne won her first international show jumping class in Oliva, Spain, on Thursday.

The 26-year-old guided the Ita Brennan-bred HHS Clinstown (OBOA Quality x Cavalier Royale) to the fastest clear round in the 1.30m Table A to get her first win on the board for the Irish Army Equitation School for whom she started riding for in April 2021 after her cadetship.