ON THIS DAY – Austrian GP win for Judy Reynolds while Butler and Will Wimble take Mullingar International

Four years ago today, Kildare’s Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K produced yet another incredible performance on the international stage, to win the 2016 four-star Grand Prix at Achleiten in Austria and in the process set a new Irish record score.

Reynolds and the Joe and Kathleen Reynolds-owned then 14-year-old Jazz gelding, Vancouver K, finished with a score of 75.24% which topped her previous Irish record of 74.32% set in Doha the previous March, after which they gained an individual Dressage place for Ireland at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Alexander Butler and Will Wimble

Also on this day back in 2013, Alexander Butler and the Irish Sport Horse Will Wimble claimed victory at the CSI2* Grand Prix at Mullingar, adding to their win at the Balmoral Grand Prix in Northern Ireland the month before. The then 25 year-old Meath rider was one of just four to record a double clear round in the nine-horse jump off, and despite a very strong challenge from Edward Doyle and Samgemjee, came home with just under a second in hand. Will Wimble was owned and bred by the late Harold McGahern, from Rincoola, Granard, Co. Longford .

Three years ago today in 2017, the Irish Show Jumping team finished third in the four-star Nations Cup at Langley, British Colombia in Canada. The highlight for Ireland was a double clear round from Derry’s Daniel Coyle with the Sue and Ariel Grange-owned Cita – the only double clear of the competition.

Ireland were on 22 faults at the halfway stage counting a nine fault score from Andrew Bourns with CHS Inseption (ISH) and 13 faults from Robert Blanchette with Coupis.

Team manager Michael Blake saw his side add just three faults to their total in the second round. Daniel Coyle produced his second clear with Cita, before Blanchette added just two time faults with Coupis, while Conor Swail came home with just one time fault aboard Flower.

This left Ireland on a total of 25 faults in third and ahead of Mexico in fourth on 32 faults. The United States took the winners prize after they finished with 13 faults while the home team from Canada claimed runner-up spot just one fault further back.