Ireland’s all-conquering youth jumping programme has been the envy of Europe in recent years, and hopes are high for a similar 2026 after an outstanding opening Nations Cup weekend in Sentower laid the foundations for another assault on the series, and this summer’s European Championships.
After a wildly successful maiden Nations Cup and European Championships season last year which garnered multiple team and individual medals, Denis Flannelly and his coaching team began their second campaign at the helm over the Easter weekend at the Belgian venue.
With what many would have described as developmental teams in action, Irish riders achieved individual success across the board and, most important for Flannelly, two Nations Cups wins for the Young Rider and Pony teams. They move on to Compiegne in France to compete this weekend.
The Young Rider team of Aidan O’Brien, Harrison Blair, Jenny Dunlop, Ben Walsh and Charlotte Coffey set the tone on the Thursday with an impressive win, totalling 12 faults over two rounds to see off France in second and Belgium in third.
Not to be outdone, Ireland’s Pony team of Jack Dore, Ted Fagan, Robbie Sheehan, Charlie Flynn and Saoirse O’Neill showed nerves of steel to take Nations Cup glory after a jump off with France, following up the Young Rider team’s win the day previous.
Rounding out the week, in the Prijs Philippaerts – We live horses – CSIOP-NC-Y 1M30 – Grand Prix, Fagan and Ballyfore Rosie led home an Irish 1-2-4 with Flynn runner-up with Montana and O’Neill fourth with Exodus Angies Rose.
The programme sees four teams again in action in Compiegne this weekend – Children on Horses, Ponies, Juniors and Young Riders, with confidence high from Sentower and hopes of some more excellent performances.
Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Youth Jumping Manager, Flannelly, said: “We were delighted to bring four teams to Sentower, and we were using the opening Nations Cups at Sentower and here in Compiegne as venues to develop the four squads – Children on Horses, Ponies, Juniors and Young Riders.
“I’m over the moon with the fact that two of the four teams won last week. We in the programme had felt that our Pony team had a strong chance of a podium finish, but three of the four riders are first season combinations, so to win at this level was wonderful.
“To go head-to-head with France in a team jump-off made the competition extremely exciting, with an excellent Belgian team in third. It was a performance full of talent, character and resilience.
“A couple of our Young Rider team were new to the level, and it really was an incredible performance from the squad. The tracks throughout the week were wonderfully designed in a fantastic facility but as we moved up along the age categories things got tougher. Course designer Raf Suarez did a brilliant job of testing the combinations and it was great to see our combinations thrive.”
Flannelly will not yet get carried away off the back of early season success but will nonetheless be buoyed by the performances at what will have been the highest level many of the riders and their equine partners will have performed.
The future certainly seems bright, and the Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Youth Jumping Manager will undoubtedly be delighted with the wins yet understandably remains cautiously optimistic for the spring and summer.
He added: “Sentower and Compiegne are two shows we identified to use as developmental shows to provide opportunities to combinations, and if we can nick a podium or two here in Compiegne this weekend to add to what we achieved in Sentower, I’ll be thrilled.”
With 2025 now in the rearview mirror and focus firmly shifted towards the upcoming months, Flannelly is encouraged by the levels of interest from Irish athletes bidding to for team selection, and the talent coming through the programme.
“Last year, we gave more Irish combinations an opportunity to compete than ever before through the FEI Nations Cup Series and in doing so, it helped develop more depth across the board in our youth programme.”
Recalling the team spirit among the four 2025 European Championships squads, Flannelly recalls the fundamental ethos within the squads from last summer and makes the assertion that developing young athletes for readiness in senior competition remains the objective.
“We created a wonderful atmosphere across the board by working closely with the athletes and their families, in conjunction with their coaches to cultivate that spirit and camaraderie and that must remain one of our primary goals, to develop for the future, in doing so creating a culture of unrivalled team spirit and support.
“We were keen last year to ensure we helped as many young athletes as possible to experience team competition at a high level, but also for them to experience what it is to be part of an Irish team – to be part of a collective result.”
The Irish squads competing in Compiegne are as follows:
Friday April 17th:
Juniors: Senan Reape (Creevagh Special), Lauren Adams (Caddie Z), Annie Boland (Calisto Blanc), Jack Kent (Ollie van de Klopphutten), Alanna Fagan (Billy Hastings)
Individuals: Ruby Lily Gaines, Isobel Sheehan
Young Riders: Aidan O’Brien (Gisbourne VDL), Tabitha Kyle (Desterly), Jenny Dunlop (Gidion B), Ben Walsh (Zenith VD Donkhoeve Z), Paddy Reape (Mr Rocky Blue)
Individuals: Billy Sinnott, Alex O’Connor
Saturday April 18th:
Children on Horses: Nina Smith (Count Me In), Willow Gavin (Easy Top De Courcel) and Blaithnaid Murphy (Godiva Quality), Zahara Kirby Casola (Seraphine Van Het Weidse Hof), Colm Widger (Jerencice Dysenbeek Z)
Individual: Josh Fitzgerald (Nala)
Pony: Saoirse O’Neill (Exodus Angies Rose), Daisy O’Dea (Griffondor Dream Dei), Ella Rush (Birchgrove Blue Delight), Sam Widger (BP Bon Jovi), Bonnie Loughrey (Infinity)
Individuals: Zoe Mellet, Robbie Sheehan