Breen brothers honoured

TIPPERARY County Council hosted a special ceremony on Monday to honour the sporting achievements of Tipperary’s Shane and Trevor Breen on the international show jumping circuit. The event at Brú Ború, Cashel, was attended by some 200 people including Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County County, Cllr Roger Kennedy, CEO of Horse Sport Ireland Denis Duggan and senior show jumping team manager Michael Blake. Full coverage in next week’s paper by Dickie and Catherine Power.

Irish team for Sopot

MICHAEL Blake has named his team for Ireland’s first points-scoring Longines FEI Show Jumping Nations Cup of the season in Sopot, Poland, tomorrow (Sunday). Three members of the recent Rome-winning team - Mikey Pender with HHS Calais (ISH), Michael G. Duffy with Clitschko 17 and Jack Ryan with BBS McGregor (ISH) – are joined by Jessica Burke with Express Trend (ISH). Alexander Butler is the reserve rider with Ti Amo B Z. Mikey Pender won a 1.50m class on the opening day of the show with the Bravo Hughes Ltd-owned 11-year-old mare HHS Catwalk (Cit Cat x Clover Echo).

Explosion W injured

BEN Maher Tokyo Olympic champion Explosion W sustained a soft tissue injury while jumping the five-star Grand Prix at La Baule CSIO5* last Sunday. The 14-year-old was pulled up when suddenly appearing lame after clearing the first five jumps. He received immediate treatment and was driven out of the ring. On Wednesday, Maher released a statement saying: “Unfortunately, during the CSIO Grand Prix of La Baule, Explosion W sustained a soft tissue injury during the first round. He is now back at home in the UK and receiving the best veterinary care. He’s happy and full of character.”

Luhmühlen CCI5*

THERE are three Irish competing in the CCI5* at the Luhmühlen Horse Trials in Germany this weekend. Susie Berry (Monbeg by Design), Felicity Ward (Regal Bounty) and Elizabeth Power (Senza Fine) are among 40 entries in the feature, the third CCI5* of the year. Two sessions of dressage took place on Thursday and Friday. Cathal Daniels (CDS Cairnview Romolu) and Jennifer Kuehnle are competing in the CCI4*-S.

Azure (ISH) wins at Bromont

THE Irish Sport Horse Azure won the CCI4*-L at Bromont International in America last weekend, ridden by USA’s Phillip Dutton. The 11-year-old grey mare by Omar out of Cavalier Roselier (Cavalier Royale) was bred by Elizabeth Power who produced him all the way to four-star level before he was sold to Dutton just over a year ago. Opening on a score of 36.4, they added just 0.4 for time in both the cross-country and show jumping to finish almost four points clear at the top of the leaderboard. Commenting on the mare afterwards, he said: “We got to do a bit of work on the dressage, she’s a freak cross- country, and I was very, very pleased with the way she show jumped. She’s ready for five-star if I can give her a little bit more competitive on the flat.”

Clonmel Show elect new president

EDDIE O’Gorman is Clonmel Show’s new president and succeeds Carrie Acheson who, a former mayor of Clonmel and a former TD who held the office for the past 20 years, sadly passed away earlier this year. O’Gorman, who is the longest serving member of the present show committee, has served as chairman of the horse committee for the last 20 years, contributing to make Clonmel Show one of the biggest horse shows in the country. Eddie is looking forward to meeting and welcoming everyone to the Clonmel Show on July 2nd at Powerstown Park.