Ian Fearon to take on consultant role with Irish Eventing team

  • 22 February 2019, 10:30

Co Down-born Ian Fearon has announced that he will be stepping back from his duties as Show Jumping coach with the Irish senior Eventing team, but will remain involved in the HSI coaching structure in other ways.
Due to personal circumstances, Ian is not in a position to commit to the amount of travel required for the current role and preparations for the Olympics in Tokyo 2020. He is however fully supportive of the HSI senior Eventing programme and is staying involved as a consultant and mentor for the Show Jumping phase with the Irish Eventing team.

(l-r) HSI CEO Ronan Murphy presenting Ian Fearon with the 2018 Coach of the Year trophy. Also pictured, Irish Eventing team manager Sally Corscadden and Comdt. John Ledingham (Photo: Matt Browne/Sportsfile)

Following Ireland’s team and individual silver medal win at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, Ian Fearon was named HSI Coach of the Year along with Irish Dressage coach Ian Woodhead. Fearon has played a leading role in the training of Irish Show Jumping and Eventing riders at underage level for over a decade, including multiple medal wins at European Championship level.

Ian Fearon, who was also named Coach of the Year in 2010 and again 2014, said:
“For many years now I have been the High Performance Show Jumping Coach for Horse Sport Ireland with the Irish Eventing team and several Youth teams in Eventing and Show Jumping. I have had the privilege of training and traveling to many championship and international competitions with the best young and senior Irish riders and their fabulous horses, with outstanding medal and podium successes from many of them. Because of personal commitments, I will be unable to keep my position as contract coach, but I am continuing my roll with Horse Sport Ireland in many other ways.”

Irish Eventing team manager Sally Corscadden said:

“Ian has been an invaluable part of the success of the senior Eventing team and we will all miss his passion and expertise at training and more importantly on the final Show Jumping day. I have been very fortunate over the years to work alongside Ian and to be in the position to win medals together, the most memorable being the European team gold with the Young Riders in 2014 and of course the World Equestrian Games team and individual silver in 2018.
“Ian’s belief in the riders and preparation at training gave them such confidence to perform on the big stage and deliver when it mattered most. His years of coaching the Eventing squads has ensured a good system that connected with the Dressage and Cross Country, and although he will not be with us at the Championships, his training will still be there to see and will help the riders to keep performing at the highest level.
“Obviously, the next Show Jumping coach has big shoes to fill, we have to make sure they fit in with our management team and are passionate about Eventing and Team Ireland. On behalf of the management team and squad, I would like to thank Ian for his dedication and inspiration that helped us deliver on the world stage, and I am delighted that Ian will remain with us as a consultant and mentor.”

HSI CEO Ronan Murphy also paid tribute to Ian Fearon and said:

“Ian’s contribution to Team Ireland at all levels has been immense and while we will miss having him travel with our team, we are extremely fortunate to continue to have access to his expertise as a consultant and mentor. On behalf of all at Horse Sport Ireland, I would like to personally thank Ian for the massive contribution he has made to our High Performance Programmes and we look forward to continuing to avail of his expert guidance as we build towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”

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