O'CONNOR CONTIUES GOOD FORM AT AREZZO
02/04/2009 KILDARE rider Cian O' Connor continued his build up to Sunday's Global Champions Tour Qualifier with a win in a 1m40 2-phase at the Italian venue today.

Riding Dermot O'Rourke's chestnut mare Baloufina, O'Connor proved unbeatable of the 99 starters with a double clear in a time of 24.14.  This pair also took the honours in a 1m45 accumulator on Sunday.

O'Connor rides the Castlemartin Stud's 12 year old Danish bred Complete in Sunday's Global Champions Tour class.  They qualified by finishing 5th in the 4* Arezzo Grand Prix.

HUGHES & MARSHALL IN LINE UP IN  PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX
15/03/09 KILKENNY'S Marion Hughes took a third place in this evening's (Sunday) Grand Prix at Comporta, Portugal with the Irish-bred Cavalier Royale mare 'HHS Cashmere', while Belfast-born Harry Marshall slotted another Irish-bred, 'Mandarin Smoke', into fifth.

Hiughes, who is based in Portugal, was unable to catch Britain's talented Laura Renwick, who added today's two-star Grand Prix to a list of Comporta victories on board 'Limelight de Breve'. However, the third place earned Hughes 3,000 euro for her double clear round.

Marshall, who now lives in Ballyclare, Co. Antrim, had a pole down with his grey mare in the 11 horse jump-off and picked up 1400 euro in prize money.

Earlier in the week at Comporta, Alex Duffy claimed a runner-up spot with 'Tampa', while Trevor Breen took a fifth place on 'Womack' and Shane Breen a tenth with 'Mullaghdrin Gold Rain'.

KURTEN TAKES RUNNER-UP SPOT IN AREZZO GRAND PRIX

TWOMEY NINTH IN FINAL SUNSHINE GRAND PRIX

TRIO OF IRISH TOP THREES AT CADIZ
13/03/09 A WIN in the Small Grand Prix, a runner-up spot and a third place was the tally for Irish riders at the Sunshine Tour near Cadiz, Spain today (Friday).

Joanne Sloane-Allen made her breakthrough into the 1m40 classes with Joe Sloan's 'ABC Loreen', out-pacing Norwegian runner up Marie Longem by a fifth of a second to win the Small Tour Grand Prix, while Cian O'Connor took the runner -up spot in the Big Tour Two Phase competition on Dermot O'Rourke's nine year-old mare 'Baloufina', a horse which has also given the Meath rider an eighth place in the last week.

In the 1m40 speed competition, meanwhile, Wexford's Dave Quigley piloted Charles Britton's 'Sabatini' into third place, adding to the prize money he has collected from the two wins and the third place already registered by the chestnut mare at the Spanish tour.

KURTEN FOURTH IN ITALIAN TWO PHASE CLASS
13/03/09 IRELAND'S Jessica Kurten took a fourth place in the last, and biggest, class of the day (Friday) at the three-star show in Arezzo, Italy on Lady Georgina Forbes's 'Castle Forbes Cadeau Z'.

The Antrim-born rider, currently ranked sixth in the world, was one of 21 riders through to the second round of the 1m50 two-phase competition and steered the ten year-old mare across the line just over a second off the pace of Italian winner Juan Carlos Garcia and 'Hamilton de Perhet' in a tightly-fought finish.

A total of five Irish riders are competing at Arezzo this weekend, at both one and three-star level, and the Grand Prix takes place on Sunday.

BABINGTON THIRD, SWEETNAM FIFTH IN FLORIDA CHALLENGE CUP
13/03/09 IRISH riders kept up their high batting average at the DeNemethy show grounds in Wellington, Florida last night (Thursday) with two top five places in the tenth round of the WEF Challenge Cup series.

Forty year-old Kevin Babington from Carrick-on-Suir rode his own Holsteiner 'Caracas' into third place in the four horse jump-off but along with Brazilian runner-up Rodrigo Pessoa had a single fence down in the final round. American double Olympic Gold Medallist Beezie Madden won the class with the only double-clear round of the night on 'Onlight', though posted a much slower time than her immediate challengers.

Cork-born Shane Sweetnam secured fifth place in the Grand Prix with 'Little Emir'.

Babington has had two fourth places in the Challenge Series so far, and both he and Sweetnam contributed to Ireland's joint second place in the US Nations' Cup in February. Sweetnam also took second place in the US World Cup Qualifier at Green Cove Springs in January.

O' CONNOR AND CURRAN ADD TO IRISH TALLY IN SPAIN

Twenty nine year old Kildare rider Cian O' Connor had another successful weekend at the Spanish Sunshine Tour with a win on Splendour in the 1.50m Speed class.  He beat Hong Kong's Olympic rider Kenneth Cheng to take the trophy in Saturday's feature class.
 
Northern rider Frank Curran also took a red ribbon on Saturday with a win on Nallinimo in the 1.40m class at the Spanish venue Vejer de la Frontera showgrounds with a double clear and the fastest time.
 
Waterford Show Jumper "Mark O Sullivan" was in action on the other side of the globe at the weekend. He was competing at the North Island Championships in Hawera New Zealand and had a superb result in the biggest class of the show yesterday taking 8th place in the Super League Grand Prix.
 
Riding "Mighty Heights" 34 year old O ' Sullivan from Bulerstown was the fastest of the 4 faulters narrowly missing the jump off which was won by New Zealand's "Katie Mc Vean" and her Olympic mount "Dunstan Forrest"

HARRISON SNATCHES HSI GUIDAM GRAND PRIX AT CAVAN

AT THE second  Guidam Spring Tour round of the year to be held at Cavan Equestrian Centre, Young Rider Robert Harrison took his first 2009 Grand Prix victory this afternoon (Sunday).

The 17 year-old from  Co. Longford rider rode his father David's nine year-old gelding 'Team Harmony Chelto Z' to a reasonably comfortable victory over challenger Alexander Butler, and said afterwards: "The ground was exactly as I needed it, and it paid off. I honestly thought there would be someone faster, but I'm pleased to say that that didn't happen."

Robert had been one of the participants in the Mackey Training Bursay organised by ShowjumpingIreland with Irish International Rider Billy Twomey over the Christmas Break and judging from his improving performances so far this year young riders like Robert are clearly benefiting from this sort of incentive.

Thirteen combinations made it through to the 2,500 euro  jump-off from a startlist of 55 over the Stuart Clarke-designed course.


RESULTS:  GUIDAM SPRING TOUR, CAVAN EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, CO. CAVAN

1m30(S)
Eighth Leg
Presented by the Show Jumpers' Club in Association with TRI Equestrian
Sponsored by  and Cavan Equestrian Centre
Sunday March 29, 2009

1) Team Harmony Chelto Z (Owner David Harrison); Robert Harrison (YR) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 39.95
2) Kilcor Amber (Owner Aileen McDermott ); Alexander Butler Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 41.09
3) Colette B (Owner Brian Duff); Brian Duff Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 43.89
4) Konampa (Owner Caroline Killeen); Aidan Killeen Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 44.65
5) The Butlers Pantry Paradise G (Owner Dermott & Rosaleen Clarke); Olive Clarke Faults 0.00/4.00 Time 41.67
6) Kalvinretto (Owner David Prentice B M W); Edward Little Faults 0.00/4.00 Time 41.78
7) Kellswater Crimson (Owner Gerard Clarke Snr); Gerard Clarke 0.00/4.00 Time 42.34
8) Twain (Owner Markus Buser); Dermott Lennon 0.00/4.00 Time 43.85

55 starters, 13 through to jump-off

KENNEDY WINS MARYVILLE  LEG OF HSI GUIDAM LEAGUE

21 year-old Sinead Kennedy from Tralee took her first win in the Guidam Spring  Tour at Maryville Stables in Carrigaline, Co. Cork this afternoon (Sunday).

Riding her father Bill's 10 year old Irish-bred gelding 'KEC Alicante', Kennedy was one of seven through to the  jump-off over James Tarrant's course from a 29 combination start.

With K.E.C. holding their in house sale on 9th April , this result will surely attract intrest in other K.E.C. produced animals.

Afterwards she said: "This was a fantastic venue, and the sand arena really suited my horse. We were fourth here last year and this is a terrific day for us. I think the Guidam Tour is great for young riders."

The winning rider  was presented with the Cork Trophy  by Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh.

This is the first Sunday that two legs of the HSI Guidam League are being held , and results from the  round at Cavan Equestrian Centre could shake up the leader board.

RESULTS: HSI GUIDAM SPRING TOUR, MARYVILLE EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, CO. CORK

GRAND PRIX
1m30(S)
Seventh Round
Presented by the Show Jumpers' Club in Association with TRI Equestrian
Sponsored by  Maryville Stables
Maryville Equestrian Centre, Co. Cork
Sunday March 29, 2009

1) KEC Alicante (ISH) (Owner William Kennedy); Sinead Kennedy Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 33.64
2) Chatsworth Dan (ISH) (Owner John McDonald); Eddie Moloney Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 34.88
3) Walterstown Clover (Owner Ronan Tynan); Tholm Keane Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 35.59
4) Biscaya D'Eversem (Owner Tim O'Shea); Joan Greene Faults 0.00/0.00  Time 37.99
5) Warrenstown Well Aware (ISH) (Owner Ronan Tynan); Tholm Keane Faults 0.00/4.00 Time 32.57
6) Awbeg Duchess (ISH) (Owner John T Hyde); Corinne Hyde Faults 0.00/4.00 Time 34.40

29 starters, seven through to jump-off

DRAIN WINS AGAIN ON THE HSI GUIDAM SPRING TOUR

Sixteen year old Antrim rider Conor Drain recorded his third win of the HSI Guidam Spring Tour in Crossmaglen today. Riding Anthony Smyth's Shanroe Penny, the combination beat off 11 in the jump off to extend their leads on both the riders section and the horse section.

42 combinations faced the starter and Tom Holden's course in James Kernan's Equestrian Centre and the crowds were not disappointed.  With 12 through to the jump off, it was sure to be an enthralling contest.  However Drain turned it into a precession.

Anthony Smyth's mare has been the model of consistency throughout this league again she proved that once again today, Sunday.  Going last with a blistering jump off round to send the teenage rider 14 points clear at the top.  The pair broke the beams in a superb time of 31.80.

Peter Smyth put his first points on the board today and try as he might with the very speedy Hygie Du Golfe, he could not fend off the challenge from Drain.  Smyth put in a very respectable double clear in a time of 34.92 that would have won most other classes.

Taking third and following on from his sixth place last week at Kill was Alexander Butler.  This time he was placed with Harold McGahern's Will Wimble.  Quite inexperinced at this level, Will Wimble was given a steady round by Butler who clearly realises this is one for the future.  However, they were not so slow when they stopped the clocks in 39.12 and good enough for third best on the day.

Creevagh Duca Flight and Delyth Collins came next with another double clear.  This league has gone well for Collins so far with numerous high places and this one catapults her into fourth place in the overall standings.  The pair achieved this place with good time of 41 seconds even.

Slightly behind Collins was Dublin rider Gary Quinn and Edessa's Ivanoa.  Another that is being brought to Grand Prix level in Ireland through the Guidams, Lady Camilla Lett's mare put in a solid performance clocking a time of 41.84 to take fifth place in the final standings.

Conor Drain again took a second placing in the line up, this time with Judith Sossick's Loughview Lou Lou.  A winner last year of many 6 year old classes including the 6 year old final at the RDS, Sossick's mare is surely one to watch for the future and recorded a time of 42.87 to slot into sixth place.

The TRI Equestian Leading Young Rider again went to Conor Drain who has a commanding lead over Shannon McKenzie in second.  Drain now moves 14 points clear at the top of the table with seven legs remaining.  The prolific scorer Shanroe Penny now has 20 points to spare in the horse's leader board.  The tour now moves on to Cavan and Maryville next Sunday.

RESULT HSI GUIDAM SPRING AT KERNAN'S, CROSSMAGLEN

1 Conor Drain on Anthony Smyth's Shanroe Penny 0/0 31.80
2 Peter Smyth on Pat Podmore's Hygie Du Golfe 0/0 34.92
3 Alexander Butler on Harold McGahern's Will Wimble 0/0 39.12
4 Delyth Collins on Ronnie Hollinger's Creevagh Miss Jones 0/0 41.00
5 Gary Quinn on Lady Camilla Lett's Edessa's Ivanoa 0/0 41.84
6 Conor Drain on Judith Sossick's Loughview Lou Lou 0/0 42.87
7 Eoin Gallagher on Deirdre Gallagher's Rimbaud Des Bergeries 0/4 36.34
8 Dermott Lennon on Markus Buser's Twain 0/4 36.76

TRI Equestrian Leading Young Rider - Conor Drain 
 

KEANE SNATCHES GUIDAM WIN AT BROADMEADOWS

THOLM Keane from Waterford won the fifth leg of the HSI Guidam Spring Tour today (Tuesday) at Broadmeadows Equestrian Centre in Co. Meath, with a double clear round in a time of 28.92 on Ronan Tynan's 'Redmills Krafty Jack'.

Keane, the 2008 Series winner, crossed the line one-and-a-half seconds ahead of Co. Antrim's 16 year-old Conor Drain and 'Shanroe Penny', a combination that has won two of the Guidam Grands Prix since the league started in February.

Dan Walsh put his first points on the board with Quest Systems Monsieur Du Reverdy.  This pair jumped a double clear in a time of 33.22.  After a successful number of years working with Cian O' Connor, Walsh has now set up on his own and is making great strides so far.  His groom Paul Cocoman also picked up the Best Turned out award sponsored by Fitzpatrick Promotions.

Today's result puts the Northern Ireland teenager, Drain, at the top of the HSI Guidam leaderboard on a total of 29 points, with Keane in second place on 24 points and Newgrange's John Floody close behind in third place on 23 points.

Fifteen horse-and-rider combinations went through to the 2,500 euro Grand Prix jump-off from a startlist of 40 today on the Tom Holden- designed course.

The 2009 tour, organised by the Show Jumpers' Club, features a total of 13 Grands Prix throughout Ireland, and the total prize fund will be 40,000 euro. Horse Sport Ireland is sponsoring the tour for the first time in its five year history.
 

RESULT HSI GUIDAM SPRING TOUR HELD AT BROADMEADOWS MAR 17TH
 

1 - Tholm Keane on Krafty Jack (Owner: Ronan Tynan)  0/0 28.92
2 - Conor Drain on Shanroe Penny (Anthony Smyth) 0/0 30.49
3 - Daniel Walsh on Quest Systems Monsieur Du Reverdy (Daniel Walsh) 0/0 33.22
4 - Tara Dunne on Evita (Siobhan Dunne) 0/0 33.54
5 - Edward Little on Kalvinrettto (David Prentice BMW) 0/0 33.65
6 - Adrian Griffin on Nobodys Fool (Tom Hutchinson) 0/0 33.81
7 - Tholm Keane on Walterstown Clover (Ronan Tynan) 0/0 34.92
8 - Taylor Vard on Lurgies Pride (Taylor Vard) 0/0 35.91

TRI Equestrian Young Rider Conor Drain

FLOODY SHOWS HES NO ONE TRICK PONY BY TAKING SECOND GUIDAM TOUR WIN AT KILL
John Floody  won the fourth leg of the HSI Guidam Spring Tour today at Kill International Equestrian Centre in Co. Kildare, with a double clear round in a time of 34.82 on Michael Smith's gelding 'Larkhill Cruiser'. Floody also won the second leg of the Spring Tour in Cavan two weeks ago on Tony Noble's 'Slightly Bonkers'.
Floody is now neck-and-neck in the series with  16 year-old Conor Drain from Antrim, both riders have chalked up two Grand Prix wins and the series looks like hotting up further over the next rounds.
A total of 17  combinations went through to the € 2,500  jump-off over Tom Holden and Seamus Casey's course from a start list of 83 which has been the largest startlist so far in 2009.
  Malahide based Conor Swail took the runner-up spot  with 'Uretto', just under half a second off the pace of Floody on  'Larkhill Cruiser'.

The Guidam Tour moves on to Broadmeadows Equestrian Centre near Ashbourne on St.Patrick's day where both riders will again be in action

RESULTS: HSI GUIDAM SPRING TOUR,
KILL INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, CO. KILDARE
GRAND PRIX 1m30(S)
Fourth Leg of 2009 HSI Guidam Spring Tour
Presented by the Show Jumpers' Club in Association with TRI Equestrian
Sponsored by Kill International Equestrian Centre.
Sunday March 15, 2009

1) Larkhill Cruiser (Owner Michael Smith); John Floody Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 34.82
2) Uretto (Owner O'Connor & Swail Stable); Conor Swail  Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 35.21
3) Chatsworth Dan (Owner John McDonald); Eddie Moloney Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 38.61
4) Vladimer Van Het Lambroeck (Owner Denis Flannelly); Neal Fearon Faults 0.00/0.00  Time 40.70
5) Warrenstown You 2 (Owner Ronan Tynan); Tholm Keane Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 40.81
6) Kilcor Amber (Owner Aileen McDermott); Alexander Butler Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 41.10

17 through to jump-off
83 Starters

ShowjumpingIreland are delighted to announce details of the Pegus Horse Feeds/Tiffen Developments Young Riders Development League.

The class, which will be run through the National Grand Prix League, will take in approximately 15 legs with a final being held at the Pony and Young Rider National Championships.  Although, it will take in qualifiers from the qualifying round of the Premier Series, the class will be mainly focused on the National Grand Prix.

Last year, in its inaugural year, the class was won by the late Benny Keuhnle, and took in many of the European Team members.  Keuhnle was the winner of a remarkable class which was watched by a large crowd that boasted the largest prize for a Young Rider Class in Europe.

This year, the prize fund for the final will again total €10,000 and it will be run on the same basis as last year.  The class will be run over two rounds with 25% going through to the jump off.  Riders will qualify by jumping in 1.40m classes in both the Young Riders section and the Senior Section, with 12 faults or less on two occasions.

This league is a wonderful opportunity for our Young Riders and over the last number of years they have shown how competitive they can be at the highest level.  Last year Young Riders had no fewer than five winners in the National Grand Prix League and of course Benny Keuhnle’s marvellous success in the Blessington Premier Series.  The Young Rider development league has been designed to further this success and bring our Young talent to the top in the years to come.

Pegus Horse Feeds have joined up this year with ShowjumpingIreland and Branding Manager David Stone jnr. is looking forward to the season; ‘’ Pegus Horse Feed is proud to support the PHF Young Rider Development League in which we see the future of the sport competing at the highest level.  In the early days, Pegus was one of the main supporters of Young Riders in this sport, and we now look forward to this continuing in 2009 and beyond.  To compete at the highest level, you need a High Quality Horse Feed.  Pegus Horse Feed, together with the SJI and the Development League look forward to seeing you throughout the season."

ShowjumpingIreland Young Rider Committee Chairman Taylor Vard is delighted to welcome both sponsors; ‘’I am delighted the class is going ahead with the same prize fund as last year.  The class will bring out our best young riders and is one that must not be missed.  I extend my thanks to both Pegus Horse Feeds and Tiffen Developments for their kind contributions.’’

Again sponsoring this year John Curran of Tiffen Developments said this following the announcement of the class; ‘’On the back of last year’s success, we are delighted to support again.  We had a wonderful winner last year in Benny Keuhnle and we hope that this class will bring many of our young riders to Grand Prix level and beyond.’’
 

DRAIN TAKES SECOND WIN IN HSI GUIDAM TOUR

 

 

Click Here to read ShowjumpingIreland's response to the Gordon Holmes Report on anti doping procedures

 

 

HORSE SPORT IRELAND LAUNCHES HOLMES REPORT

06/03/09 AT a press briefing at their offices in Naas this morning (Friday) Horse Sport Ireland launched the conclusions of the Expert Group, chaired by Dr. Gordon Holmes, set up to look at measures to eradicate prohibited substances and practices from the Irish equestrian sector.

The report comes on the back of positive medication cases involving horses ridden by Irish riders, two of which took place at the last two Olympic Games in Athens and Hong Kong.

The main recommendations in the report are:
•The establishment by Horse Sport Ireland of a new National Medication and Anti Doping Testing Programme in Ireland. The group felt that the current arrangements were ineffective.
•The introduction of a new licensing system for riders at National level linked to the completion of certain educational courses. Currently being a member of a Horse Sport Ireland affiliate generally confers a right to participate in equestrian events.
•A requirement being placed on every international rider to keep a detailed log book of all medications and products they, their vet or their groom administers to their international horses. In the special case of the Olympic Games, riders will have to supply this to Horse Sport Ireland and the Olympic Council of Ireland 60 days prior to the competition. After this date they will require express permission from the Team Veterinarian to give any substance to their horse.
•A proposal that a list of prohibited practices be drawn up and that Horse Sport Ireland would seek to have these outlawed as part of the new animal welfare legislation being developed by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In addition it is proposed that as part of the rider licence, Horse Sport Ireland would be entitled to enter yards and training grounds to investigate any allegations of wrong doing by participants in the sector.

The report also contains detailed recommendations in relation to a new disciplinary and penalty structure, including the use of disciplinary and appeal panel members from other countries.

Dr Gordon Holmes, who is also the current Chairman of the Parole Board and the Garda complaints board, said that during the course of their work concerns were expressed about a lax culture that had crept into the sector in relation to prohibited substances and practices and that this needed to be addressed firmly.

"We believe that the recommendations in the report are straightforward and can be readily implemented. It is clear that there is a real sense within the sector that action is needed," he said.

In relation to international riders, Dr Holmes said that there was clearly a need to put measures in place to give team officials greater oversight over riders.

"The new log book will require riders to declare everything they administer to their horse and if they then end up in trouble there will be no excuses available. Horse Sport Ireland can request to see this logbook at any reasonable time and we have recommended special arrangements in the lead up an Olympic Games," he said

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh thanked Dr Holmes and the members of the expert group for their work and said that Horse Sport Ireland would be moving to implement the report without delay.

"Later today this report will be forwarded to our rules committee and they will begin the process of enshrining the recommendations into our rule book. The affiliate bodies will also need to amend their rule books. I would expect all of these recommendations, including the new Anti Doping and Medication Testing Programme, to be fully operational by the end of the year," he said.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:

The group was Chaired by Dr Gordon Holmes, Co- founder, managing partner until recently and now chairman of Holmes O’Malley Sexton, the largest law firm in the Mid–West. Chairman of the Garda Siochana Complaints Board since 2002, Chairman of the Parole Board, Chairman of the Betting Appeals Board, Chairman of the Independent Complaints Panel and Chairman of the Commission on Intoxicating Liqour Licencing. He currently is Chairman of the Turf Club’s Referrals and Regulations committees.

Click Here to read the full report.