Hat-trick of Irish Grand Prix wins in Spain as Irish Sport Horses shine

A hugely impressive weekend for Irish Show Jumping horses and riders has seen no less than three Grand Prix wins for Irish riders across Spain today (Sunday) including a double of wins for Irish Sport Horses.

Ireland’s Niamh McEvoy and Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick (ISH) took victory in the three-star Grand Prix at Vejer De La Frontera in Spain (Photo: Andalucía Sunshine Tour)

Tyrone teenager Niamh McEvoy continued her superb season, by taking a brilliant win with Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick (ISH) in the three-star Grand Prix at Vejer De La Frontera in Spain. McEvoy (18), was handed her Nations Cup debut by Irish team manager Michael Blake on Friday in Vejer, with her second round clear helping Ireland to a fourth place finish. The Vejer Grand Prix saw 12 combinations make it into the jump-off where McEvoy’s clear in 32.06 seconds saw her take the winners prize of almost €13,000 with Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick (ISH) who was bred by Dorothea Wilson. Second place also went to an Irish horse and rider, with Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny (ISH) jumping clear in 33.51 to secure a runner-up finish.

At the same fixture in Vejer, there was also an Irish winner in the two-star Grand Prix. Cork’s Billy Twomey, riding Lady Lou, finished in a share of first place after crossing the line in exactly the same time (39.69) as USA’s Mavis Spencer with Carayuno.

Meanwhile at Oliva in Spain, Carlow’s Jason Foley and The Irish Sport Horse Rockwell RC proved unbeatable in the two-star Grand Prix, while Tyrone’s Jenny Ranking finished sixth with Imar.

“She is really quite special for an 8-year-old,” Foley said about his horse Rockwell RC. “I think it is only onwards and upwards from here for her. I got the ride on her back three months ago, after having ridden her already as a 5-year-old at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Lanaken where we won. It is brilliant getting the ride on her back now that she is eight. She has answered a lot of questions every time I have asked more from her in a good manner, and I think that is going to make her better than most.”

BREEDING
Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick (ISH) – 2010 mare by Limmerick (HOLST) out of Go Luckey (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeder: Dorothea Wilson. Owner: Robin Bingham. Rider: Niamh McEvoy (IRL).

Kilkenny (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Cardento (HOLST) out of MHS Pembrook Lady (ISH) by Guidam (SF), bred by Sinead Brennan, Co Kilkenny. Owner Susan Magnier. Rider Cian O’Connor.

Rockwell RC (ISH) – 2014 mare by Kannan (KWPN) out of Urban Sea (ISH) by Guidam (SF). Breeder: Ronan Byrne, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Sean Cubitt. Rider: Jason Foley (IRL).