Tag Archives: Clare equestrian

A COUNTY Clare rider has made an excellent start to the 2022/2023 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup season, scoring a podium place finish in the opening round of the series at Oslo in Norway on Sunday. Riding the 12-year-old mare Chakra, Eoin McMahon was one of 11 combinations to make it into the jump-off after a clear first round. Drawn first to go in the jump-off, McMahon posted an impressive clear in 46.13 seconds against the clock, which would be good enough for third place at the finish and 15 league points for the Clareman. Tipperary’s Thomas Ryan was also among the starters, and finished with one fence down in the first round with Springfield. The second leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, Western European League, takes place in Helsinki, Finland next weekend.

Ireland chef d’equipe Michael Blake speaks to Dan Danaher and looks back at his riding career, what he had to do to buy his first pony, setting the world bareback championship record, and guiding Ireland’s showjumpers to a string of successes   MICHAEL Blake has made history by bringing the Aga Khan trophy back to Tuamgraney following a very successful showjumping year that included qualifying for the Olympics less than seven days before the thrilling jump-off against France in the RDS. On paper, Michael knew he didn’t have the riding pedigree to become Ireland’s Showjumping Manager. However, through hard graft and precise planning, the Tuamgraney man put himself firmly in the hunt for selection. From 2012 to 2016, Michael took over the Ireland Youth Showjumping team and helped young riders to an impressive haul of medals. In 2017, the senior riders asked him to get involved so he became Development Manager and started working with Chef d’Equipe, Rodrigo Pessoa. This …

THE WORLD famous Aga Khan trophy could be making its way to Clare next month to mark the role of a Tuamgraney man in Team Ireland’s victory in the Nations Cup last week. The glittering prize is one of the most sought-after in international equestrian sport and was donated by Aga Khan III in 1926. Chef d’Équipe, Tuamgraney’s Michael Blake, ensured that Ireland took back the coveted cup for the first time since 2015 in after a tense, but thrilling, jump-off against France. An elated Michael, who is also celebrating early qualification for the Olympics in 2024, told The Champion the nail-biting finish was a little tighter than he would have liked. “We did take our foot off the gas at point, but when it came down to the penalty shoot-out, we showed we could put the ball in the back of the net,” he said. On returning to Clare last Monday, one of the first things Michael did was …

THERE was more success for Clare at the presitigious Dublin Horse Show this Sunday. Following his brother Coen’s victory in the U-16 148cm final at the main RDS arena on Friday, Rhys Williams won the International 7 & 8-year-old competition. The PARC Stables rider took victory this afternoon aboard the 7-year-old Playboy JT Z (Presley Boy x Plot Blue). Last year, the Ennis brothers made showjumping history by becoming the first pair of siblings to be crowned leading international horse rider and leading International pony rider at the FEI International Jumping Nations Cup Youth Finals.

Clare’s finest young jockeys will be hoping to gallop forward this week with the county well represented at the prestigious Dublin Horse Show. The action starts this Wednesday as over 1600 horses and ponies from all corners of the country as well as some of the most expensive international showjumpers in the world will descend on D4 for this event for the first time since 2019, with the Dublin Horse Show cancelled for the past two years due to the pandemic. The Dublin Horse Show takes place from 17th – 21st August in the iconic grounds of the RDS combining sport, style and socialising in the heart of Dublin. There are high hopes for Clare’s talented young jockeys with the Williams brothers from Ennis set to take centre stage. Older brother Rhys, who has recently turned 18, will compete with the horse Conthanja PS in the 135-140cm Young Rider’s Class while he will also be aboard the horse Playboy in …

The National Amateur Showjumpers league will be launched at Newmarket-On-Fergus Show this Sunday. Two local companies have come together to sponsor the National Amateur Showjumpers league for 2022.  Joint sponsors Orchard Equestrian and Newmarket Architectural and Planning Services (NAPS), have come together in a sponsorship package worth over €4,000.   This new league will be run at selected shows in the 32 counties throughout the summer, with horse and rider combinations gaining points towards the overall prize giving ceremony.  Along with the national title, the leading rider on points will be crowned an Orchard Equestrian ambassador – a package that includes a €1,000 voucher, jacket and 15% discount code for 12 months.   The runner-up prize is a  €750 voucher, with further prizes on offer for the top 10 riders.    The league kicks off at Newmarket-On-Fergus show, the local show of keen amateur rider Derrick Burke who is also joint sponsor of the competition. Derrick was at the launch with his long term equine …