IRELAND has traditionally boasted a very high standard in the young rider and Children on Horses section and, if this year’s results are anything to go by, their standard has moved up to a new level of excellence. The performance of Irish young riders at home and abroad demonstrated the calibre of our riders and indeed the future looks very bright for Irish show jumping. Here are just a few of the highlights of the year.

FEI European Championship

In what was an incredible week for Irish riders, they claimed two gold medals and individual gold and silver at the FEI Jumping European Championship for Young Riders 2023 in Gorla Minore. The GAIN Equine Nutrition Irish team of Rhys Williams, Niamh McEvoy, Seamus Hughes Kennedy, Max Wachman and Ciaran Nallon were unstoppable all week and, led by Team Manager James Kernan, dominated proceedings.

There was much to be hopeful for as Ireland led going into the final round on a score of 2.5, with Britain second on 10.41 and Belgium in third on 11.09. Tyrone’s McEvoy and Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick (ISH) led the way with a clear round over a challenging course in a time of 73.34 seconds.

Williams was next up aboard Playboy JT Z, but finished with an unlucky four faults in 74.91 seconds, which would later provide the discard score. Hughes Kennedy and ESI Rocky (ISH) secured the victory for the Irish, as he left all the poles in place in a time of 76.10 seconds. Wachman and Quintini were the very last combination to enter the arena and, even with victory secure for his team, he answered all the questions in a time of 75.89 seconds. In the end, Ireland finished on 2.5 points, with Belgian way back on 15.09 and third-placed Britain on 18.41.

European Championships Jumping Seamus Hughes Kennedy won indidivual gold at the FEI Young Rider European Championships in Gorla Minore with ESI Rocky (ISH) \ Tomas Holcbecher

Individual Gold

In what was an outstanding performance, Kilkenny’s Seamus Hughes-Kennedy and ESI Rocky (ISH) went on to claim the individual gold medal in a very hard-fought championship. Sweden’s Beata Hermelin took home the silver medal, while the bronze went to Dutch rider Skye Morssinkhof.

Rhys Williams and Playboy JT Z finished in sixth place overall, just ahead of Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy and Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick in seventh, while Tipperary’s Max Wachman and Quintini finished in 11th.

Earlier in the year, Seamus Hughes Kennedy demonstrated his talent as he took the 1.45m Young Rider Grand Prix in Opglabbeek, Belgium. Riding the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Castlefield Hera, he was one of only five clear rounds to progress to the jump-off, where he posted the fastest clear round in a time of 39.88 seconds. On National soil, he also won the Balmoral International Grand Prix with ESI Ali. He finished the year on a spectacular note, winning the CHI de Geneve Defender U 25 Grand Prix. Also in the line-up was Niamh McEvoy and Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick, who finished in sixth place. The result meant that Hughes Kennedy moved up to 18th place in the U25 Rankings.

Junior Gold Medal Gorla Minore

Ireland stamped their authority on the European championships after James Kernan’s Show Jumping Junior team won gold, under pressure, in Gorla Minore, Italy.

The GAIN Equine Nutrition team of James, Timmy and Eoin Brennan, Coen Williams and Tom Wachman added gold to the Young Rider success, beating off the challenge from The Netherlands, who finished second, ahead of Britain who took third place.

Ireland entered the final round on a score of 3.16, which gave them the buffer of one fence down to spare. With Eoin Brennan finishing his round with an unlucky four faults on board Eskola M, and James Brennan incurring eight faults aboard MHS I’m The One (ISH), it meant pressure was on with Wachman and Williams still to jump. Wachman answered all the questions aboard Cathalina S to leave Ireland one clear round from double gold.

Dutch rider Nick Nanning delivered a clear which meant Williams needed to be perfect to secure the victory for Ireland, which he duly did aboard Conthanja yet again, to give Ireland their second Team gold medal.

Tom Wachman and Berlux Z were part of the fifth placed Irish team at the Vejer de la Frontera Nations Cup \ Sunshinetour

Wachman takes silver

Tom Wachman became a double European medallist in Gorla Minore, Italy, with his mare Cathalina S. The combination rose from fifth place at the start of the day to finish in second after two fantastic rounds of jumping.

Wachman entered the final for individuals with a gold medal in sight on a score of 1.82. Wachman did not bow to the pressure, jumping impeccably in the first round before another super clear ensured he finished in second place, on the same score he started with.

Austria’s Anastasia Nielsen claimed the gold medal on Tailormade Contou on a score of 0.7, and Holland’s Nick Nanning was third on board Bandia, finishing on 2.78.

First Place for Ireland - Eoin Brennan on Eskola M, James Brennan Mrs IM the One, Coen Williams on Conthanja, Timmy Brennan on Diadema della Caccia, Chef d'Equipe James Kernan - Fei Jumping European Championship Young Riders, Juniors and Children 2023 - Gorla Minore, Italy \ FEI

Nations Cup Italy

The Irish Junior Show Jumping team, led by Horse Sport Ireland Team Manager James Kernan, led the victory lap in the 1.40m CSIOJ Nations Cup. The Irish team consisted of Kilkenny’s Eoin Brennan on Eskola M, Kilkenny’s James Brennan on MHS I’m The One (ISH), Kilkenny’s Timmy Brennan on Diadema Della Caccia and Clare’s Coen Williams on Conthanja. This is the second consecutive Nations Cup win for James Brennan and MHS I’m The One (ISH), who were part of the winning Nations Cup Team in Sentower Park, Belgium.

Junior Nations Cup Sentower Park

The Irish Junior Show Jumping team continued the run of good form of Irish riders to claim the 1.40m Junior Nations Cup.

Led by Horse Sport Ireland Team Manager James Kernan, the team of Kilkenny’s Marta Hughes-Bravo on HHS Figero (ISH), Cavan’s Camryn Clarke on Conto de Reve (ISH), Kilkenny’s James Brennan on MHS I’m The One (ISH) and Kilkenny’s Emily Moloney on Temple Alice (ISH), finished on a score of one to take first place, ahead of the Germany who came second on two faults, while The Netherlands came third on 13 faults.

Opglabbeek

Also delivering impressive results, the Irish Junior team of Eoin Brennan (Eskola M), Stephen Gibbons (Cassius Z), James Brennan (MHS I’m The One), and Coen Williams (Conthanja), managed by James Kernan, scored a podium finish at the finals, taking second overall after a jump-off against The Netherlands.

National Championships

No matter what they win abroad, an RDS Championship is close to any Irish rider’s heart and, as a result, these championships see the top riders battle it out in a bid to take these coveted titles. The stands in Simmonscourt were packed to capacity for the first of the Young Rider Championships on Friday morning, the 1.35/140m category. Claiming the first title was Junior European Team gold medallist Coen Williams aboard Conthanja PS. Of the 16 combinations that booked their place in the final, seven proceeded to what was a very exciting jump-off. Double-handed in the jump-off, Co Clare’s Coen Williams had his first look at the course aboard Elsandro Du Bois. A strong gallop to the last saw him set the target of clear in 37.18. The target was reduced again as Marta Hughes-Bravo took every tight line with HHS Figero and shaved over two seconds off the target when clocking 35.15. Last to go aboard his European mount Conthanja PS, Coen Williams knew he only had one option if he wanted to retake the class from Marta. Throwing caution to the wind, he took the same lines as the leader, but it was the turn back to the last line that saw him clock the winning time of 34.71. As a result, Marta Hughes-Bravo took second, while Williams and Elsandro Du Bois finished in third.

1.25m-1.30m

The 1.25m-1.30m Championship on Saturday evening also went down to the wire, with three of the four combinations that booked their place in the jump-off delivering clears. No stranger to this type of pressure, Carlow’s Max Foley was first to go and he negotiated a series of good turns with Hermes De Cavalier and delivered the winning round of 32.99. Emily Moloney also answered all the questions with Ian Smyth’s Capitol Cruise and kept all the poles in place in a time of 34.36 to take the reserve title. The last of the double clears was delivered by Alice Wachman and Thijssen Sr Z in a time of 34.86 for third place.

1.10m - 1.15m Championship

On Sunday, the last championship to be contested was the 1.10m/1.15m division, with 19 going to post. Claiming this title was Michael McGrath and Abbey Lagans. In total, 12 booked their place in the jump-off. First to go, Lucy Morton set the bar high, when she delivered the first double clear with Cassclo Beach, in a time of 33.22, which would later prove good enough for third place. Michael McGrath had his foot firmly to the floor, as he took it on with Abbey Lagans. A very tight turn back to the vertical at three and later a great turn back to the penultimate fence, matched with a daring gallop to the last, saw him clock the winning round of clear in 32.10. Despite following the same path as the winner, a clear in 32.89 saw Ciara Fives and Mermus R Russel secure the reserve title.

RDS Bursary

Following a busy week of competition, four young riders, Taylor Peare (Lissyegan Geoffrey), Max Foley (Hermes de Cavalier), Coen Williams (Conthanja PS) and Marta Hughes-Bravo (HHS Figero), were chosen to compete for the Young Rider Bursary.

Taking the Bursary prize and the leading young rider title of the Dublin Horse Show was Ennis rider Coen Williams. These four riders were put through their paces by French Team Manager, Henk Nooren. Nooren praised the Irish for the amount of young talent that they have competing in Europe and the results are there to prove it, as they have dominated the international scene.

SJI Young Rider Championships

This year, the SJI Young Rider Championships moved to Hollypark, with an array of classes on the schedule.

Following some nail-biting classes, it was Robyn Moran who was crowned the National young rider champion. The Limerick rider was also crowned the leading 1.40m champion. Claiming the 1.30m title was Alexandra Hourigan, while Stephen Gibbons took the 1.20m title. Molly Taylor was joint 1.10m winner, with Daisy McNamara and Molly was also crowned the Children on Horses Champion.

The 1.40m on the final day proved to be a very exciting class, with just 15 combinations taking it on. Leading the victory lap was Rhys Williams with Dodarde E Z, when they delivered a clear in 73.57. Robyn Moran added to her points tally when she took the runner-up with Cushlas Fryday, when she delivered a clear in 74.13.

Also adding points to her tally was Alexandra Hourigan and Cuffesgrange Caballus, clear in 75.46, while in fourth was European Team Champion, Rhys Williams and Cowboy Balou, clear in 75.65.

Coen Williams and CNF Dynamite also featured in the line-up, filling fifth place, clear in 80.33, ahead of Annie Courtney-Cadam and LCC Bond, clear in 85.35.