Tag Archives: showjumping

TODAY (Wednesday) sees the start of the Dublin Horse Show with plenty of Clare interest in the four day event. With the show running from August 9 to 13, the premier show jumpers from Ireland and further afield have descended on Dublin, writes Ivan Smyth. The Williams brothers – Rhys and Coen – will each compete in multiple events during the course of the week. Older brother Rhys will be onboard Playboy JT Z (Presley Boy x Plot Blue) in the seven and eight year old International Class. Rhys took victory in the same competition in last year’s event aboard Playboy JT Z. Rhys will be aiming to take home the Seamus Hughes Perpetual Challenge Trophy awarded for the Four Year Old ‘Mo Chroí’ National Show Jumping Championship. Rhys will compete in the Four Year Old Class aboard KPCM Hugo Boss (Plot Blue (KWPN) x Luidan (KWPN). Finally, the talented rider, out of PARC Stables, will also ride in the …

A TALENTED young Ennis showjumper has followed up recent European success with victory at the Dublin Horse Show in the RDS this Friday. Coen Williams was the captain when the Irish Pony U-16 showjumping team of Eoin Brennan, James Brennan, Paddy Reape, Williams and James Derwin, managed by Gary Marshall, won the team gold medal at the FEI Jumping European Championships for Ponies in Strzegom, Poland recently. In addition to the team award, Coen also won an individual bronze medal. In fact, this was the first time since the European championships started in 1978 that Ireland won first, second and third as well as team gold. Coen will be part of the Irish U-16 team that will be paraded before the Aga Khan Nations Cup final in the RDS on Sunday to mark the team’s outstanding achievements. On Friday, Coen followed up this great success by becoming Ireland’s new national champion by winning the U-16 148cm final at the main …

CLARE rider Coen Williams has won European gold as a member of the Irish Pony Showjumping U16 team at the FEI European Championships in Poland this weekend. Coen, of PARC Stables outside Ennis, added an individual bronze medal to his haul on Sunday, with his compatriots James Derwin and James Brennan taking gold and silver. The Irish team finished on a zero score to take the gold medal ahead of France who took the silver on four faults while Netherlands collected the bronze on 12 faults. The team consisting of Kilkenny’s Eoin Brennan with Glor Tire Cruise (ISH), Kilkenny’s James Brennan with MHS Glow (ISH), Sligo’s Paddy Reape with Valma De Fougnard, Clare’s Coen Williams with Saxton Freedam (ISH) and Westmeath’s James Derwin with Rincoola Babog (ISH) is managed by Gary Marshall. Marshal told Horse Sport Ireland’s website, “We are over the moon. We worked hard, had a plan and the team all executed it brilliantly. They are a great …

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 …

By Peter O’Connell HE doesn’t look 90 and can’t quite believe that he is. Tom Whelan, originally from Doonbeg, has been living and working in O’Dea’s Road, Kilrush for several decades. He has shod thousands of horses since training as a farrier with Barry’s in Kilrush many decades ago. These days, Tom still tips away in his forge across from his house. “Tis a pity,” he laughs when the 90-year figure is mentioned. “Hard work. A lad that sits down gets seized up. It’s like a car or a tractor that’s idle. It seizes up,” Tom replied when asked how he was in such fettle. “I was always on them,” he added, pointing to his finely polished work boots. Tom has been around horses since he was knee high to a foal. When he was growing up in rural West Clare, everybody had a horse. They were essential. “Everyone had a horse,  a pony and an ass. Creamery, ploughing and …

One of the big achievements from a Clare perspective was that of Tom Foley, Clonlara, winning the young rider award. There were 278 temporary stables at the Showgrounds and most horse yards in the Clare area were full to capacity. Ennis Rugby Club was home to 48 showjumping families who have living facilities in their horse lorries throughout the four-day event. Local riders were also in the ribbons, with results in the finals on Sunday are listed below. 128cm – U-10 80cm: 4. Paula Williams’ PARC Sassy Brassy (Rhys Williams). 128cm – 1.10cm: 6. Paula Williams’ PARC Kicking it (Rhys Williams). 138cm – 1.20cm: 1. Heidi Dunn’s Drumaclan Flight (Robbie Clancy); 6. Castlequarter Stables Clona Prince (Conor Mc Mahon). 148cm – 1.10cm: 3. Martin Power’s Flash Bobby (Hannah Power). 148cm – 90cm: 3. Linda Gallagher’s Ballybrody King (John Gallagher); 6. Jo McMahon’s Sandy Sweet (Della Daly). 128cm – 1m: 4. Kevin Reidy’s Tattygar Dexter (Jack Reidy). 138cm – 1m: 2. …