Ireland off to a flyer with 1-2 in Valkenswaard

Geoff Curran and DHF Alliance (ISH) jumping the final fence at Valkenswaard. Photo: Britt Carlsen, Danish Warmblood Studbook.

The inaugural WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy got underway in the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, Netherlands where Commandant Geoff Curran and DHF Alliance (ISH) led home a 1-2 finish for the Irish Sport Horse Studbook.

Curran galloped home double clear in a time of 26.73 seconds ahead of German-based Irishman Jonathan Gordon with CBI Karhari (ISH), whose time of 27.55 seconds ensured the Irish week in Valkenswaard picked up where the Horse Sport Ireland Young Horse Squad left off in Lanaken, with Amhran na Bhfiann playing.

This first qualifier was run as an individual class with the overall scores from the best four results counting towards the placings of the competing studbooks. These seedings will then affect the starting positions of the studbooks for the second qualifier tomorrow, Friday.

The Irish Sport Horse Studbook carries 8 faults into that Eight-Year-Old qualifier based on the 4-fault rounds of Paddy O’Donnell with WEC Mermus Rua (ISH) and Joanne Blair with Tranquility Bay (ISH). O’Donnell’s round with Kilcorig Elysium (ISH) acted as the discard on this occasion.

Speaking after the class, Chef d’Equipe Taylor Vard said: “It was an amazing start by the riders and their horses here today. Everyone is delighted after it and the whole team is on a high. Hopefully the rest of the day will continue in the same fashion.”

Riders are permitted to ride two horses in the qualifying classes, but only one in the final itself. The combined results of the two qualifiers will then determine the starting positions for the Studbooks in Saturday’s final for the Eight-Year-Olds, where the three best riders will ride consecutively. The starting scores in the finals revert to a zero-score meaning it will be all to play for right to the end of the class.

The finals of the Five, Six, and Seven-Year-Olds take place on Sunday, October 1^st.

The 2023 Horse Sport Ireland Young Horse Squads are kindly supported by Bluegrass Horse Feed and Janni Bars.

Participation at the FEI WBFSH Studbooks Global Trophy for Young Horses in Valkenswaard is funded by the Department of Food, Agriculture and the Marine under National Breeding Services.

Breeding:
DHF Alliance (ISH)
2015, Mare by ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN) out of Rosie Bee (ISH), by Lux Z (Hann).
Bred by Paul Douglas, Co. Tyrone.
Owned by Jessica Stallard & Minister for Defence.
Ridden by Cmmdt. Geoff Curran (IRL).

CBI Karhari (ISH).
2015, Stallion by Goodluck VDL (KWPN) out of CSF Karina (ISH), by Kroongraaf (KWPN)
Bred by Aidan Carroll, Co. Offaly.
Owned by Denis Gallagher.
Ridden by Jonathan Gordon (IRL).

WEC Mermus Rua (ISH).
2015, Gelding by Mermus R (KWPN) out of DRS Chattanooga (ISH)[TIH], by Abalou Verte (KWPN).
Bred by Ray Brown, Co. Westmeath.
Owned by Patrick Peare.
Ridden by Paddy O’Donnell (IRL).

Tranquility Bay (ISH).
2015, Gelding by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof (BWP) out of Tullibards Lux Sensational (ISH), by Lux Z (Hann).
Bred by John Mulvey, Co. Wicklow.
Owned by Richard Bourns.
Ridden by Joanne Blair (IRL).

Kilcorig Elyshium (ISH).
2015, Gelding by Cornet Obolensky (BWP) out of Kilcorig Belle (ISH), by Camiro De Haar Z (Zang).
Bred by Nigel Jackson, Co. Antrim.
Owned by Alberta Capital Limited.
Ridden by Paddy O’Donnell (IRL).