THE Children on Horses division in Ireland has become more and more competitive over the years, with the standard now considered very high. Like the juniors and young riders, this division clocked up results at home and abroad. Here are some of the highlights of the year.

Hagen Nations Cup

The Irish Children on Horses team proved unbeatable in the FEI Nations Cup in Hagen, Germany. Following the path of the Junior and the Pony teams, the Children on Horses team, under the direction of James Kernan, were the only team of seven competing to finish on a score of zero.

The team of Lily Tunney riding Caravago, Ruby Lily Gaines riding Castle Lux Clover, Alice Moloney riding Cosima and Cian McMunn riding Limited Edition, finished on a team score of zero, ahead of The Netherlands who finished second and Germany in third. Double clears from Tunney and McMunn, combined with four faults in the opening round for Gaines and four faults in the second round for Moloney, left Ireland unbeatable.

The Children on Horses Show jumping team, from left, Harry Rush, Ruby Lily Gaines, Show jumping Youth high performance manager James Kernan, Alice Moloney, Michael Phillips of GAIN Equine Nutrition, Lily Tunney and Cian McMunn during Horse Sport Ireland Youth Show Jumping Final training at the National Horse Sport Arena in the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin \ Brendan Moran /Sportsfile

National Circuit

On the National scene, some important titles were up for grabs. Robbie Sheehan started his year off well, as he finished as the winner of the Children on Horses title in the Equijump Ltd Spring Tour and also claimed the Ballinrobe Children on Horses title.

The final round in the Children on Horses division came down to a double bill of the series, the Equijump Pony Spring Tour, with the penultimate round taking place in the Meadows on Saturday, while the final took place in Portmore on Sunday.

Winner of the Children on Horses division in the first of the two shows, when they delivered the only double clear, was Adam Adair and Remake Lande in a time of 43.31. This combination also claimed victory in the final in Portmore on Sunday, when they delivered the only double clear in 40.41.

Robbie Sheehan took the overall title with Ahare Olympic Flemmencio on 24 points, followed closely behind by Cian McMunn and Captain Marko on 23 points. Lily P Slattery finished third with Captain Candy Man on 22 points.

Robbie Sheehan (COH) and Ahare Olympic Flemmencio, winners of COH/JU 1.10/1.20m class at the Leinster Inter Provincial Pony Championships at Killosssery \ Laurence Dunne jumpinaction.net

SJI National Championships

At the SJI National Championships at Mullingar, resident rider Ted Fagan and Bella M were crowned the Children on Horses Champions, while Robbie Sheehan and Ahare Olympic Flemmencio took the reserve title. Sheehan finished off his great season, as he partnered his new charge Fubalia into fifth place in the Children on Horses Grand Prix in Lichtenvoord.

Dublin Horse Show

In Dublin, Children on Horses competition commences with the Team Championship. As in previous years, the stands in Simmonscourt were filled for the Children on Horses Team Championship, with four teams looking to claim the 2023 title. Claiming the title was the Edward Doyle Junior-managed Red Team when finishing on a total of four penalties.

The team was made up of Kacey-Lou Carberry (Brandonview First Edition), Ted Fagan (Bella M), Harry Rush (Beach Buggy), and Ciara Ryan aboard Chica Of De Rocky Mounten Z. The quartet put in a super performance in the first round, with all four combinations delivering clear rounds.

Children on Horses Team Championship winners Kacey-Lou Carberry, Ted Fagan, Harry Rush and Ciara Ryan at Dublin Horse Show 2023 with Edward Doyle junior \ Jane Emilly Potter jumpinaction.net

Individual Children On Horses Championship

Following on from a great team Championship, the high standard of competitors in the individual Championship on Sunday came as no surprise.

In total, 15 combinations lined out in a bid to take the title, with seven booking their place in the jump-off. Claiming the 2023 crown was 13-year-old Ted Fagan aboard Sarah Jane Fagan’s 10-year-old Luidam-sired mare, Bella M. First to go against the clock, Carlow’s Ruben Foley and Carrick delivered the first clear in a time of 36.10 to put it up to the rest.

The lead changed hands as Kilkenny rider Brona Keane took every possible tight line with the trustworthy Quality Diamond. Cheered on by the crowd, they crossed the line clear in 35.65.

Next up, Ted Fagan set off in a blistering pace with Bella M and a series of extremely tight turns saw him shave over three seconds of the lead, coming home in 32.54. With Fagan taking the win, Keane took the reserve, while Foley took third place.