Double for Allen and Pacino Amiro

Irish riders excelled around the world once again, read all about the success from the weekend

Bertram Allen pictured riding the Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro during the FEI World Championships Herning 2022. Credit: Helen Cruden

Coverage over the weekend was understandably dominated by the overwhelming success of the Irish youth show jumping athletes in Gorla Minore, Italy, where Ireland came home with team gold in both the Young Rider and Junior divisions, and individual gold for Seamus Hughes Kennedy in the Young Riders and individual silver for Tom Wachman in the Juniors.

While all this was happening, Irish senior athletes were in action around the world and recording some more excellent results.

The CSI5* in A Coruña, Spain, saw the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro, ridden by Bertram Allen and owned by Aidan McGrory, record a double – winning the 1.60m ranking class on Friday an the 1.60m Grand Prix on Saturday. In the same ranking class on Friday, Billy Twomey made it an Irish one-two with Chat Botte E.D, owned in partnership between Twomey and Sue Davis.

Also in action on Friday was Richard Howley who claimed ninth with Mansini Ltd, owned by HK Horses. This was one of two top ten finishes for this combination, who followed up with a seventh place in the 1.50m ranking class on Sunday. In the same class Denis Lynch finished sixth with Brooklyn Heights, owned by Molly Ohrstrom.

In Saturday’s 1.45m ranking class, Lynch took sixth place with the 17-year-old stallion Rubens LS La Silla, owned by Onyx Consulting Ltd and Flaminia Straumann. Trevor Breen was seventh with Home Farm Equestrian’s Gonzalo.

Falsterbo, Sweden played host to the other CSI5* show where Mark McAuley finished third in the 1.50m ranking class with the Irish Sport Horse GRS Lady Amaro. The 10-year-old mare is owned by S.n.c McAuley, and was bred in Co Wexford by Denis Hickey. Thomas Ryan and Karmel Van De Watering, owned by Lövsta Stuteri AB, finished fifth in another 1.50m ranking class.

David Simpson and Harry Allen both recorded top five finishes in the CSI4* in Chantilly, France. On Wednesday, Simpson was fourth in the 1.50m ranking class with his own 8-year-old stallion Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve. On Friday, Allen was fifth with Iron Lady Van De Zuuthoeve. This 9-year-old mare is owned by Ballywalter Stables and continues to impress this season, having represented Ireland on the Longines EEF Nations Cup team in Bratislava in June.

Shane Sweetnam, Simon McCarthy and Lorcan Gallagher had a successful show in the CSI3* in Williamsburg, United States of America. On Thursday, Sweetnam finished in fifth and tenth with RR Combella and Irandole du Flot in the 1.45m ranking class. McCarthy claimed seventh place in the same class riding Rock Ridge Farms’ 12-year-old mare Gotcha.

RR Combella is a 9-year-old mare owned in partnership between Sweetnam and Voquest LLC. Having only first competed internationally this year, this result was one of two top ten finishes for this combination at Williamsburg. They also finished third in the 1.45m ranking class on Friday. Another 9-year-old mare, Irandole du Flot is owned by Seabrook LLC.

Sunday’s 1.50m Grand Prix saw Sweetnam narrowly miss out on the top spot, claiming second with Birdy Du Thot, owned by Ashley Vogel. Gallagher finished inside the top ten with Copycat, owned by Lost Lake Farm LLC, and Hunters Conlypso II, owed by Dacantos Group.

There was plenty of CSI2* action with Irish riders competing in Valkenswaard, Tryon, Courrière, Samorin and Zuidwolde. Jack Ryan was third in the 1.45m Grand Prix in Valkenswaard, riding the 9-year-old stallion Catch-Me van Berkenbroeck, owned by Jos Lansink Horses BV and Michel Spaas.

In Tryon, Richie Moloney won the opening 1.45m ranking class with Equinimity LLC’s Skelwith Diamond Lady. In the 1.45m Grand Prix Darragh Kerins was second with Lissino, owned by Eve Jobs, and Moloney was sixth with Coco Beach, also owned by Equinimity LLC.

Adam Carey was second in the 1.45m Grand Prix on Sunday with Catherine Haab’s L.B Crumble in Courrière, France. Also recording a top ten Grand Prix placing was Deirdre Reilly in Samorin. She finished equal seventh with her own Cocktail de Talma.

In Zuidwolde, Michael G Duffy topped off the weekend by winning the 1.45m Grand Prix with Casino in. Owned by Melisa Internationales Reitzentrum GmbH, this was the first international outing for this combination. Earlier in the week Kiefer Dawson Stanley was sixth in the 1.45m ranking class with Jumping Jack van de Kalevallei, owned by Geert De Sloover and Joeri Stevens.

Breeding:

Pacino Amiro (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Carnone Dancing Queen (ISH) by NC Amiro (AES). Breeder: Simon Scott, Co. Donegal. Owner: Aiden McGrory. Rider: Bertram Allen (IRL).

GRS Lady Amaro (ISH) – 2013 mare by Amaretto Darco (BWP) out of Legal Lady (TB) by Over The River (TB). Breeder: Denis Hickey, Co. Wexford. Owner: S.n.c McAuley. Rider: Mark McAuley (IRL).