INTERNATIONAL SHOW JUMPING:DESPITE A major recession in the Irish equine industry, breeders have been well-rewarded with successes for show jumpers by local stallions in the opening six-year-old class at the Dublin Horse Show.
The six-year-olds provided breeders an excellent shop window in the main arena, when 39 Irish-breds competed with 24 opening clear rounds. It was Dave Quigley’s Honeylands Douglason, by Ard VDL Douglas who stands in Co Meath, who produced a stunning clear jump-off round to win in 43.23 seconds.
Leitrim ace John McGuinness on board the classy I’m One Cool Cookie, owned by Connie Boyle and by Limerick-based VDL Arkansas, galloped into runner-up slot in 43.64 seconds. Miguel Bravo from Kilkenny excelled for third with HHS Diamond, also sired by VDL Douglas.
The European champion, affable Frenchman Kevin Staut on the Selle Francais bay stallion Major de Coquerie, stamped his authority in The Irish Sports Council Classic by winning the 14 horse jump-off to take the € 7,000 first prize from Laura Kraut and Cedric. Beezie Madden and her Belgian-bred mare Coral Reef Via Volo finished third while five Irish riders remained in the money after brilliant opening rounds.
Cian O’Connor and Splendor would have finished second on time, but tipped one to take overall eighth ahead of Shane Breen on Sandra Duffy’s Hickstead winner World Cruise.
Top riders from the Irish senior international squad will be showing their paces this week, including Dermott Lennon, Cian O’Connor, Shane Breen, Billy Twomey and Shane Sweetnam.
France lead the field going into the eighth leg which takes place tomorrow as the teams compete for the Aga Khan Trophy. They have sent a hot team of Roger Yves Bost; Michel Robert, winner of the GCT world final 2009 and the Chantilly Grand Prix; European champion Kevin Staut and Penelope Leprevost, with her crowd-pleasing grey stallion MyLord Carthago.
The US, who lie third, also sent a strong team in Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Rich Fellers and Laura Kraut. However, Great Britain, currently in second after winning the last leg in Hickstead, will be strong contenders with old favourites Nick Skelton and Michael Whitaker competing, while Tina Fletcher, formerly Tina Cassan, makes a welcome return to the senior levels. Two horses that will not be at Dublin this year are Lamm de Fetan, ridden in the past by France’s Timothy Anciuame, and Snai Seldana, ridden by Natale Chaudani on the Aga Khan Trophy-winning Italian team last year.