25 Irish combinations qualify for Championship finals in Lanaken

After two intense days of qualifiers, a total of 25 horse and rider combinations representing Irish Studbooks have qualified for the finals of the 2024 FEI WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in the world famous Zangersheide Stud in Lanaken, Belgium.

Irish Studbooks were represented by thirty-one horses with riders from five countries, with twenty-one of those being named on the Team Ireland Equestrian Young Horse Squad supported by Redmond Property Maintenance.
A further forty combinations of Irish-riders with non-Irish horses acting as Wildcards also lined to contest this prestigious Championship.

On Thursday’s first qualification day,  fourteen combinations went clear in the first of the 5-Year-Old classes. Included in that group was Co. Mayo’s Shane Goggins and Cutting Edge Too (ISH) who earned their place having been victorious in the 5-Year-Old Championship in the 2024 RDS Dublin Horse Show.
Young British rider Harry Wood based out of Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables also jumped clear with the Irish-bred mare ESI Crystal (ISH) bred by the Ennisnag Stud in Co. Kilkenny.
Another Kilkenny connection to jump clear was Vincent Byrne with both Belle Mai (ISH) and Edentrillick Special Edition (ISH), as was Co. Waterford’s Jason Higgins with Ogue MBF (ISH).

In the 6-Year-Old division, the highest placed Irish rider was the recent individual Gold Medal winning rider at the 2024 FEI European Pony Showjumping Championships; Jack Kent with the Oldenburg mare Castlefield Duchess who finished in 11th place in the first qualifier.

Castlefield Duchess (OS) & Jack Kent – 11th in Thursday’s first 6-Year-Old qualifier; Sportfot

Also finishing in the Top 20 was Leah Stack finishing in 15th place with Luisa (ISH), while fresh from his dual clears in the 5-Year-Olds was Vincent Byrne who continued his hot-streak when jumping double clear with Gone Girl VB (ISH).

Luisa (ISH) & Leah Stack; Sportfot

While in the 7-Year-Old division, it was Irish domination with four out of the top six places featuring Irish riders, with Bertram Allen filling the 2nd and 3rd placings on Raffaella (BWP) and Huricane de Champloue (SF) respectively.

Raffaella (BWP) & Bertram Allen; Sportfot

Huricane de Champloue (SF) & Bertram Allen; Sportfot

Filling the fourth placing was the new combination of Jason Foley and Mendoza VDL (KWPN), making their first appearance together. The WSI-Approved stallion was previously campaigned by Shane Dalton before moving to Foley.

Mendoza VDL (KWPN) & Jason Foley; Sportfot

Rounding out the Irish dominance was 5th place Michael Pender with HHS Mercedes (ISH) for the Hughes-Bravo team.

HHS Mercedes (ISH) & Michael Pender; Sportfot

On Friday, for the second set of qualifiers there was more success for Irish horses and riders in the 5-Year-Old class with both Charles O’Reilly-Hyland and Penelope 31 (ISH) and reigning FEI European Showjumping Team Silver medallist Michael Duffy jumping their second double clear of the week to guarantee their place in Sunday’s final.
Also among the Irish riders to jump clear in the second qualifier were Susan Fitzpatrick with Jad’Or du Lavoir (SF) and Abigail Boland with Gorsevalley Camante (ISH)

Penelope 31 (ISH) & Charles OReilly Hyland; Sportfot

Jericho de Hus (SF) & Michael Duffy; Sportfot

Jad’Or du Lavoir (SF) & Susan Fitzpatrick; Sportfot

Gorsevalley Camante (ISH) & Abigail Boland; Sportfot

The reigning 6-Year-Old RDS winning combination of Boleybawn Alvaro (ISH) and Niamh McEvoy banished the memory of their uncharacteristic four faults in Thursday’s opening competition to finish in 2nd place in the second qualifier.

Boleybawn Alvaro (ISH) & Niamh McEvoy, 2nd place on Day 2; Sportfot

Though this result wasn’t enough to see the duo qualify for Sunday’s final, her 16th place finish with Dalirada’s Boy (ISH) was enough to see them qualify.
Her Ballypatrick Stables teammate Leah Stack goes into Sunday’s final double handed with both Luisa (ISH) and Nadim Il Faut (KWPN) doing enough to make the 40-horse cut off, as does Vincent Byrne with the ever consistent Gone Girl VB (ISH) who was clear again to secure her place in the final.

Nadim Il Faut (KWPN) & Leah Stack; Sportfot

Gone Girl VB (ISH) & Vincent Byrne; Sportfot

In the 7-Year-Old qualifier, there was more success for Irish horses and riders with British-based Irishman David Simpson taking 4th place with Mambo NR 5 B (KWPN) and in doing so, secured their place in Sunday’s final. 6th place went to Max O-Reilly-Hyland and Rock Warrior, though this placing wasn’t enough to secure their place for Sunday.

friday 7 year old; 7059, Mambo NR 5 B, David Simpson; Sportfot

thursday 7 year old; 7139, Rock Warrior, Max OReilly Hyland; Sportfot

A 7th place finish was in the second qualifier was enough to secure Molly Hughes-Bravo a spot in Sunday’s 7-Year-Old final with HHS Ice Flo (ISH), as was Michael Pender’s 11th place with HHS Mercedes (ISH).

The complete list of horses and riders qualified for the Grand Final are as follows:

5-Year-Olds:

Irish-Bred:
Charles O’Reilly-Hyland & Penelope 31 (ISH)
Harry Wood (GBR) & ESI Crystal (ISH)
Vincent Byrne & Belle Mai (ISH)
Vincent Byrne & Edentrillick Special Edition (ISH)

Wildcards:
Jason Foley & Castlefield Future (OS)
Michael Duffy & Jericho De Hus (SF)
Jason Foley & Ti Amore van de Doornhaag (BWP)
Niamh McEvoy & Orange De Baugy (KWPN)
Sophie Richards & Top Gun vd Bisschop (BWP).

6-Year-Olds:

Irish-Bred:
Harry Wood (GBR) & BP Dancing Light (ISH),
Leah Stack & Luisa (ISH),
Niamh McEvoy & Daliradas Boy (ISH),
Vincent Byrne & Gone Girl VB (ISH).

Wildcards:
Adam Morgan & Do It Rollebeek Z (ZANG),
Leah Stack & Nadim Il Faut (KWPN),
Max O’Reilly-Hyland & Netflix VK (KWPN).

7-Year-Olds:

Irish-Bred:
Harry Wood (GBR) & BP Rocket Man (ISH),
Michael Duffy & BP Royalty (ISH),
Michael Pender & HHS Mercedes (ISH),
Molly Hughes-Bravo (POR) & HHS Ice Flo (ISH),

Wildcards:
David Simpson & Mambo NR 5 B (KWPN),
Jason Foley & Mendoza VDL (KWPN),
Kian Dore & Helssinki (SF),
Leah Stack & Handiarys de Titoy (SF),
Niamh McEvoy & Sevilla Van De Berghoeve Z (ZANG).

The Team Ireland Equestrian Young Horse Jumping Squad is supported by Redmond Property Maintenance

Participation at the 2024 FEI WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine under National Breeding Services.