Carlow showjumper claims a spot in the top ten at Show Jumping World Championships

The 2023 FEI WBFSH Show Jumping World Championships for Young Horses took place last weekend at Lanken in Belgium.

A massive 235 horses and riders from around the globe started the two qualifiers for 5-year-old horses on Thursday and Friday, with twelve Irish combinations making it through to Sunday’s final.

The final saw six of those Irish pairings make it into what proved to be a thrilling second round jump-off, where HHS Ocala (ISH), bred in Graigue, Cuffesgrange Co Kilkenny by Marion Hughes and her husband Miguel Bravo, claimed the gold medal after a superb performance with Kildare’s Mikey Pender in the saddle.

Pender and HHS Ocala crossed the line clear in 37.22 seconds to finish half-a-second ahead of Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy who took runner-up spot with Boleybawn Alvaro (ISH) who was bred in Co Wicklow by Ronan Rothwell.

Incredibly, Irish horses and riders filled all three places on the podium, with another Kilkenny rider taking the bronze medal.

Ger O’Neill from Bennettsbridge, who is a three-time Lanaken world champion, partnered the Gary Doherty-bred Ballyshan B F Super Hero (ISH) to third place to complete the Irish whitewash. 

Carlow’s Jason Foley finished in eighth place with SVS Symphony (ISH), while another Kilkenny rider, Emma O’Dwyer, made it five Irish in the top 10 when taking 10th place with BP Millionaire (HOLST).

Ireland also secured the gold medal in the 7-year-old final, with Wexford’s Harry Allen and Kumina Della Caccia producing a daring dash against the clock in the jump-off with the daughter of Kannan, stopping the clock in 35.30 seconds to take victory.

Carlow’s Jason Foley also made it into the jump-off with Mister Querly Z (ZANG) and finished in ninth place overall.

Kildare’s Leah Stack added to Ireland’s outstanding run of results in Lanaken by taking the silver medal in the final for 6-year-old horses with the Dr Noel Cawley-bred Laurina (ISH).

From the 256 combinations who started the 6-year-old competition at the beginning of the week, Ireland had six combinations who made it into the final, where two Irish riders jumped clear to advance to the jump-off.

Stack (20) took the lead in the jump-off with a brilliant effort aboard Laurina (ISH) as they crossed the line clear in 35.75 seconds.

Germany’s Katrin Eckermann and Cascajall (WESTF) managed to knock over a second off the target to secure victory, while Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy also filled fifth place for Ireland with BP Tiny Dancer (ISH), who was bred in Tipperary by Greg Broderick Ballypatrick Stables.

Speaking after what was an outstanding World Championships for Ireland was Alison Corbally, Director General of The Irish Horse Board.

"Congratulations to gold medal winning rider Mikey Pender – twice so close in silver at these championships, so it was lovely to see him win the 5-year-old final with the homebred HHS Ocala," she said.

"Many congratulations to Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes and Miguel Bravo who bred HHS Ocala and to Maria Vozone who did such a wonderful job producing HHS Ocala back at home in Ireland when Mikey was away on International duty.

"Congratulations also to Ronan Rothwell from Boleybawn Sport Horses. Ronan is no stranger to breeding success and bred the runner-up Boleybawn Alvaro (ISH) who was brilliantly ridden by Niamh McEvoy.

"It was also a special result for Gary Doherty, breeder of Ballyshan B F Super Hero (ISH), Gary has bred many good horses but this is an extra special one who took third place with Kilkenny’s Ger O’Neill who added to his incredible list of podium finishes at these championships.

"To fill all three places on the podium was a phenomenal achievement and congratulations to all the Irish breeders, owners and riders who were part of this success.

"Congratulations to Harry Allen and all the team at Ballywalter Stables on a brilliant victory in the 7-year-old World Championship final and to Leah Stack on her silver medal win with Laurina (ISH).

"It was a superb championships for Ireland, winning two gold, two silver and a bronze medal. Almost 700 horses and riders stated the week in Lanaken, and of the nine medals that were on offer, Ireland five of them which is an incredible achievement from the all the breeders, owners, riders and those working behind the scenes."

Breeding – 5-year-olds

1st HHS Ocala (ISH) 2018 gelding By Urano De Cartigny (SF) out of Hera Van’t Roosakker (BWP), by Wandor Van De Mispelaere (BWP). Bred & Owned by Bravo Hughes LTD. Rider: Michael Pender

2nd Boleybawn Alvaro (ISH) 2018 stallion by Dominator 2000 Z out of Arina (KWPN), by Crown Z. Bred by Ronan Rothwell. Owned by GBBS International Ltd & Ronan Rothwell. Rider: Niamh McEvoy

3rd Ballyshan B F Super Hero (ISH) 2018 gelding by Celtic Hero B Z (Zang) out of Ballyshan Luximportant (ISH) by Lux Z (Hann). Bred by Gary Doherty, Co. Donegal. Owner: Martin Egan. Rider: Ger O’Neill (IRL)

8th SVS Symphony (ISH) 2018 mare by Comme Il Faut 5 (WESTF) out of SVS Attraction (ISH), by Air Jordan (KWPN). Bred and owned by Brian Hutchinson. Rider: Jason Foley.

10th BP Millionaire (HOLST) Million Dollar x Centurion. Owned by Equine Evolve, Fergus Lawlor. Bred by Kloes Volker. Ridden by Emma O’Dwyer

Breeding - 6-year-olds

2nd Laurina (ISH) 2017 mare by Stakkato Gold (Hann) out of Rincarina (ISH)[TIH] by Cruising (ISH)[TIH. Bred and owned by Dr. Noel Cawley, Co. Kildare, ridden by Leah Stack.

5th BP Tiny Dancer (ISH) 2017 mare by Plot Blue (KWPN) out of Uptown Girl (SPH) by Concorde (KWPN). Bred and owned by GBBS International Ltd. Rider: Niamh McEvoy (IRL)

Breeding – 7-year-olds

Kumina Della Caccia (MIPAAF) 2016 mare by Kannan x Toulon. Owned by Ballywalter Stables. Bred by Coop.Soc.Agr. La Caccia – Onlus. Rider Harry Allen.

Mister Querly Z (ZANG) 2016 gelding by Mosito v. Hellehof x For Pleasure. Owned by Castlefield Breeding Farm. Breeder: CDM GMBH. Rider Jason Foley.