Howley stars with second World Cup win as Irish continue to shine

Richard Howley (IRL) and Consulent de Prelet Z – winners of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/24 – Helsinki (FIN). Copyright ©FEIHanna M Heinonen photography

It was another fantastic weekend of Irish equestrian success around the world, with multiple five-star wins and placings at the likes of Helsinki and Mexico.

Shane Breen won the opening ranking class of the CSI5*-W show Helsinki (FIN), the 1.45m Pohjola International, with Scarteen on Friday. The 10-year-old grey gelding is owned in partnership between Breen and Marianne Schindele. Mark McAuley finished eighth in the same class with the Irish Sport Horse mare GRS Lady Amaro, owned by S.N.C McAuley.

On Saturday, Breen and McAuley added to their tallies, Breen was third with Cuick Star Kervec, owned by Breen Equestrian Ltd and Quirke Sport Horses Ltd, while McAuley was fifth with GRS Lady Amaro (ISH) in the 1.60m ranking class.

Richard Howley added to his recent World Cup success in Oslo, claiming victory In the 1.60m FEI World Cup second leg with Consulent De Prelet Z.

The 12-year-old bay gelding has shown excellent form of late, including at win at the CSI5* Dublin Horse Show and a podium finish in the Global Champions Tour of Rome this summer. Owned by Sarah Borthwick and HK Horses, he looks to be a very promising horse for the future.

In the CSI5* in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Dermott Lennon picked up a top ten finish with his own Anthem In My Heart in the opening 1.45m ranking class.

In Thursday’s 1.50m ranking class Shane Sweetnam was fifth with RR Combella, owned in partnership between Sweetnam and Voquest LLC.

The Corkman continued his top form, winning the 1.60m Grand Prix on Saturday with Cjoxx Z. The 9-year-old gelding, owned by Epic Stables LLC, recently won at the CSI3* in Lexington, as well as having two top ten placings at the CSI5* in Williamsburg this September.

Ending the show on a high, Sweetnam added another win to his tally, claiming victory in the 1.50m ranking class on Sunday with RR Combella. Jordan Coyle finished third in the same class with For Gold, owned by Falkirk Farm LLC.

Jessica Burke and the Irish Sport Horse Express Trend, finished sixth in the 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier at the CSI4*-W in El Jadida, Morocco. The same combination went on to finish tenth in Sunday’s 1.55m Grand Prix.

European Junior Championship medallist Tom Wachman finished third in the CSI3* 1.45m ranking class at Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, with Cathalina S, owned by Ronnoco Jump Ltd on Friday.

In Saturday’s 1.45m class Niamh McEvoy was fourth with BP Hybernia (ISH) while Cian O’Connor was fifth with Clown of Picobello Z.

In Sunday’s CSI3* Grand Prix at Oliva on Sunday, Nano Healy was fourth with Oaks Grove’s Clown FRH. The 9-year-old stallion is owned by Gestüt Eichenhain GmbH while in the CSI2* in Dunkerque, Sven Joseph Hadley finished third in the 1.45m Grand Prix with Phenomene Bleu VDM. The 8-year-old stallion is owned by Hadley Sport Horses Ltd and already has multiple international top ten placings to his name.

In the CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix in Herning, Denmark, Shane Carey was second with Candy – an 8-year-old mare owned by Crown Horses AB and JSM Horses & Health.

BREEDING:

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).

Express Trend (ISH) – 2010 gelding by Future Trend (OLD) out of Condios Express (ISH) by Condios (HOLST). Breeder and owner: Liam Nicholas. Rider: Jessica Burke (IRL).

Hybernia (ISH)[TIH] – 2010 gelding by Flex A Bill (ISH)[THI] out of Ballinakill Clover (ID) by Clover Hill (ID). Breeder: Noel Cawley, Co. Kildare. Owner: GBBS International LTD. Rider: Niamh McEvoy (IRL).

Anthem In My Heart (UNK) – 2014 gelding. Owner and Rider: Dermott Lennon (IRL).