Rousing RDS reception for O’Connor to mark over 150 Ireland appearances

Cian O’Connor salutes the Dublin Horse Show crowd after being presented his commemorative helmet to mark his recent 150th Nations Cup appearance by Denis Duggan, HSI CEO, Bernard Jackman, HSI Head of High Performance, Ireland Chef d’Equipe Michael Blake and RDS President John Dardis

Ireland’s most decorated international show jumper, Cian O’Connor, had his career to date celebrated in the Main Arena of the RDS this evening after he recently surpassed 150 appearances in the green jacket.

Presented with a commemorative, custom-made KEP Italia helmet on behalf of Horse Sport Ireland, the national governing body for equestrian sports in Ireland, O’Connor was given a rousing reception by the packed RDS stands to acknowledge his 25 years in the saddle for his country.

Yesterday’s Aga Khan Trophy appearance was O’Connor’s 152nd in the green jacket, and his 18th for the famous Nations Cup trophy at the Dublin Horse Show.

O’Connor made his senior Irish debut in 1999 when appearing on the victorious team who won the Nations Cup of Greece in Athens. Since then, he has competed on a remarkable 28 other winning Nations Cup teams, with the most recent being Ireland’s success in Aachen, Germany, last month and is currently the world’s number 18-ranked rider.

With four Olympic Games appearances on his resume and an individual bronze medal to his name from London in 2012, O’Connor has also won an individual bronze at the 2017 European Championships (just the third Irish rider ever to do so) and helped Ireland to team gold, a first since 2001.

O’Connor said: “Today I was honoured to have been presented with a commemorative cap from Horse Sport Ireland and the RDS acknowledging my 150th appearance on the Irish Team this year.

“Thanks so much to everyone for all their support and to all my Karlswood team and my loyal owners without who’s support this all wouldn’t be possible. I must say the audience at the RDS this week have been outstanding and when I hear their roar after my clear round in the Aga Khan yesterday it makes me realise why I love doing this job.”

Horse Sport Ireland CEO, Denis Duggan, added: “Representing your country is the highlight of any athlete’s career so for Cian to do so 152 times is truly a phenomenal achievement.

“So many times, he has stepped up to get the job done for Ireland and we commend him on his 152 caps and for all the success he has helped Ireland achieve in the green jacket.”