The Ireland Senior Show Jumping Team will bid for glory this weekend at the Longines League of Nations Final in Barcelona, one of international show jumping’s most prestigious stages.
The event also marks the end of an era as The Underwriting Exchange (TUE) concludes its decade-long sponsorship of Horse Sport Ireland. The relationship began in 2015 with the launch of the “Jumping In The City” initiative, initially with TUE as a co-sponsor, and evolved into one of the most enduring commercial partnerships in Irish equestrian sport.
The partnership supported one of the most successful periods in Irish show jumping that delivered Nations Cup wins, podium finishes at European Championships and representation at the Olympic Games.
Stephen O’Connor, Founding Partner and Executive Chair of TUE said: “It has been a real privilege to be involved with the Irish team over the past 10 years, at a time when the sport has grown in profile and professionalism. Irish show jumping is stronger and in a much better place today than it was 10 years ago. The riders, owners and hardworking management team deserve a lot of credit for that transformation and I’m pleased we played a role alongside them.
“There have been so many success stories. From the European gold in Gothenburg to the silver in Milan and the incredible wins in Aachen, one of the sport’s most challenging venues. But the Aga Khan victory at the RDS in 2022 was particularly special. You could feel the emotion in the crowd that day and what it meant to end the seven-year wait for a home win. This weekend will be a great way to round off what’s been a really meaningful chapter.”
O’Connor will be hoping for one more success story in Barcelona. Toyger – owned by his wife Catherine O’Connor and ridden by Sean Monaghan, who coaches his son Alex – named in the squad again for Sunday, having been part of the team in France last week.
“We’re immensely proud that we can cap off our period of sponsorship with our horse in the squad. It means a lot to us as a family and as supporters of the sport. A win would be the perfect way to mark our 10-year association, but whatever happens, we’re proud of everything we’ve achieved together.”
O’Connor paid tribute to the manager of Ireland’s Senior Show Jumping Team, Michael Blake, thanking him for his work and leadership throughout the partnership and, reflecting on the legacy of his sponsorship and the future of the sport, he added:
“I remain hopeful that there will be future opportunities to collaborate again with Horse Sport Ireland. Irish horses and riders are performing exceptionally well in the ring, and the sport is enjoying rapid global growth.
“While it’s encouraging to see such progress on the performance side, this is also a moment to look inward and enhance how the sport operates. There’s a real opportunity to strengthen the foundations, particularly at grassroots level, through fresh thinking and long-term planning, ensuring Irish show jumping continues to thrive both nationally and internationally for the next generation.
“With the right roadmap in place, the sport will be well-positioned to attract major sponsors and patrons, helping to ensure that the next decade builds confidently on the successes of the last.”
Horse Sport Ireland Chief Executive Officer, Denis Duggan, said: “The Underwriting Exchange and Stephen have been huge supporters of Irish showjumping and we are extremely grateful for all the support to the jumping programme over the past 10 years.
“Their contribution to the programme, and beyond, showed a commitment and dedication to jumping in Ireland and it has been a privilege to work alongside them with the team. Stephen has always had Irish success at the forefront of his mind and has gone above and beyond the role of a sponsor with his support of the sport.
“There have been some incredible highs for The Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping Team and we are looking forward to many more days like Gothenburg, Milan and Dublin in the future.”