IRISH SHOWJUMPING stepped back on to the world stage again yesterday, as the Aga Khan trophy came home after eight years.
The coveted gold trophy was held aloft by an Irish team made up of an Olympic medallist and three young guns who jumped in the RDS as pony riders.
Childhood dreams came true for Clones man Clement McMahon, Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney, Sligo rider Darragh Kerins and Ratoath Olympian Cian O’Connor, who set the RDS main arena alight with an emotional Aga Khan win yesterday.
Robert Splaine’s dream team not only took home the Aga Khan, they finished third overall in the FEI Nations Cup top league behind France and Germany, avoiding relegation.
The spectacular bay, eight-year-old, French-bred stallion Pacino, used by hundreds of Irish breeders, stole the show with a double clear round performance for Clement McMahon, as his toddler son Louis and wife Stacey cheered him on from the stands.
Pacino’s owner Maureen McMahon said: “It is a wonderful day, the lads were brilliant. We are very proud and Pacino was amazing.”
Tom Moloney, his wife and the Moloney family from Warrington Equestrian Centre in Kilkenny, were in the pocket with Mr and Mrs Francie Kerins and the Darragh Kerins connections from Tubberbride Equestrian Centre in Sligo.
Clones and Monaghan supporters of the McMahon family from Hillview Stud were at the show in their droves to see the super stallion Pacino impress yet again at only eight years.
Even Horsesport Ireland director Damien McDonald couldn’t contain himself.
“A European junior team gold last night, an Olympic medal last week, the pony Europeans gold, medals for many of our individuals and now the Aga Khan trophy with a brilliant team and exceptional horses.”
Robert Splaine’s squad collected €64,000 finishing on five penalties ahead of France on eight penalties for €40,000 and Great Britain in third for €32,000.
Midway, Ireland were leading on one penalty, ahead of France and Sweden on four faults, but even then Splaine didn’t count his chickens. “I know what can happen in this competition and how things can change.”
In the first round McMahon steered the scopey and handsome Pacino to a stunning clear, while US-based Richie Moloney and the athletic chestnut Ahorn Van De Zuuthoeve were clear but for a time fault.
Darragh Kerins with Lisona, bred by Capt John Ledingham in Enfield, out of his Porsche mare by the Limerick-based stallion OBOS Quality, showed a clean pair of heels for a beautiful clear round. Cian O’Connor and the perky Blue Lloyd went clear to the last but tipped it to become the discard score leaving Ireland on one penalty point.
Alan Wade’s track looked straightforward, but the second-last Liverpool with water tray took its toll. As visiting US FEI judge of the earlier event finals Roger Haller observed: “There were faults at every single fence. This competition was superb, with it all hinging on the last riders of the top three teams.”
France finished runners-up despite Penelope Leprevost and Topinambour being eliminated in the second round. It was the affable Roger Yves Bost on board Nippon D’Elle who propped France with double clear rounds. Jerome Hurel, the discard score in the opening round, jumped clear in the second, while European champion Kevin Staut with Reveur de Hurtebuise had clear and four faults.
Great Britain were always lurking in the background but it was not Nick Skelton’s day with Carlo, who collected 16 penalties in the opening round. As their discard score he then recharged and relaxed to score zero in round two backed up by a double clear from Tina Fletcher with Lady Harris’s Hello Sailor. John Whitaker and Argento opened their account with a clear opening round but retired in the second leaving Britain on a team total of nine penalties for third place.
Although Germany won the overall FEI Nations Cup series on the day, they finished a disappointing eighth with 29 faults below Sweden on 28 penalties in seventh and Belgium equal fifth with Switzerland.
Cian O’Connor kept Blue Lloyd warming up outside in case he was required for the second round, but Ireland had their name engraved on the trophy as the few remaining riders kicked out poles. “I was ready to jump, but happy that Blue Lloyd can now be saved for the Grand Prix. Today is what dreams are made of.”
The usually quiet Richie Moloney admitted he was nervous in the morning. “But when I walked the track I was pretty confident. Darragh and I came over from America for Hickstead and Dublin and here we are living our childhood dreams. It’s a great day for all our families watching from the pocket.”
Darragh Kerins added: “We all jumped 12.2 ponies in Dublin, we all competed against each other since our pony days. Here we are together on a Nations Cup team with the Aga Khan trophy. You work your whole life for this. If I never do anything else in my life this is the best day ever.” On Pacino’s future Clement McMahon said: “My mother owns him and she is the boss. If we were lucky enough to syndicate him someday, who knows. For now he is our horse and we are delighted.”