Horse Sport Ireland announces new Level 2 Coaches

  • 18 October 2013, 13:42

HORSE Sport Ireland (HSI) Level 2 candidates completed their final assessments last week at Ravensdale Equestrian Centre, Dundalk Grange Farm, Kilcock. The HSI Level 2 Coach qualification is the first level where coaches are qualified to coach independently and currently the first stage where candidates must produce the required standard at assessment in each discipline.

At Level 2 candidates are required to demonstrate their competency to coach at the required level in dressage, show jumping and cross country. Dressage and show jumping assessments were held at Ravensdale Equestrian Centre and candidates were required to demonstrate the required level of competency in both disciplines before being invited to present for cross country assessment at Grange Farm. Ten candidates were successful in all three phases.

Sixteen candidates began the eight day course in March 2013 when candidates attended three one – day workshops in dressage at Elementary level, show jumping up to 1.20m and cross country up to CCI*, CNC2* and CIC2* with HSI tutors Heike Holstein, Denis Flannelly, Comdt John Ledingham and Sally Corscadden.

Coaches observed and participated in these three education days where all prescribed exercises included in the HSI Level 2 manual were explained and demonstrated. Coaches also attended a course walk at Tattersalls on the CCI2* course with Eventing High Performance Manager Nick Turner. Candidates were then required to bring their own horse and rider capable of working at the required standard in each discipline for the Pre Assessments (mock assessments) which took place over two days in July.

This was a chance for candidates to practice coaching under HSI tutor guidance ahead of the final assessments. Candidates were given feedback on their coaching techniques with strengths identified and a clear pathway given to improve.

At the final assessments, candidates were once again required to bring their own horse and rider capable of working at the required standard to coach a specified topic in each discipline. Independent impartial assessors were present to carry out the assessments in dressage, show jumping and cross country. A moderator was present throughout all three days to ensure fairness to all parties.

Successful candidates in all three disciplines and newly qualified HSI Level 2 Coaches are as follows:
·      Phyllis Darcy, Co. Clare
·      Tom Doherty, Co. Antrim
·      Anne Marie Dunphy, Co. Kilkenny
·      Paul Kilbride, Co. Wicklow

·      Bill Maguire, Co. Kerry
·      Derek McConnell, Co. Kildare
·      Ronnie Morton, Co. Armagh
·      John O’Boyle, Co. Kildare
·      Johnny O’Connell, Co. Louth
·      Trevor Smith, Co. Armagh

HSI Level 2 Coaches are qualified to coach independently and are also qualified to sign off riders at bar 2 and 3 in the SJI Mackey 5 bar System.

Speaking about the HSI Level 2 Coach course 2013, HSI Chairman of Coaching Comdt John Ledingham said: “I would like to congratulate the new Level 2 coaches. This is a demanding course with eight days contact time with Coaching Ireland trained Tutors, not to mention the many months of self-development that these coaches have dedicated the Level 2 course. There is no mystery that Ireland has been winning medals in the last few years; ‘Good coaching makes a difference’!”

The next HSI Level 2 Coach course is scheduled to commence early in 2014.

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