CO Clare’s Eoin McMahon was part of the silver medal-winning Irish team two years ago in Milan but was on the ground at the Longines FEI European Championships in A Coruña as a major part of the support system for his girlfriend and business partner Wilma Hellström.

Wilma was riding on the team for Sweden and was the sole Swede to make it through to Sunday’s individual final where she jumped her third clear round of the week and finished in 19th place individually with the wonderful one-eyed grey mare Cicci BJN.

Speaking afterwards, Wilma said she regretted her four faults in Thursday’s first team round. “She’s been jumping her heart out and I think she really deserved a clean sheet. But to have one pole in four rounds, it’s not so bad.

“I said just now, while warming her up, she really can’t see! When you compare her to all the other horses starting here, she has limited ability [because of the loss of her right eye]. Friday’s team final was difficult because a lot of it came so quick off the right turn. I am so proud of her.”

Talking about Eoin and their new business venture, Wilma added: “It’s so nice to have him here, he is really my rock. We have a stable from my sponsor in Valkenswaard, Holland. It is fantastic, we have a lot of land which is really nice for our youngsters. We are building for the future.”

The horse that Eoin rode in Milan in 2023, Mila, was also at the championship, under the saddle of Swiss rider Nadja Peter Steiner. The pair impressed throughout the week and only had their first fault in Sunday’s individual final to place 15th. Previously owned by the Ludger Beerbaum Stables, Mila was sold earlier this year and was presented to Nadja as a gift from her mother. “I arrived at the show in Doha and she was waiting for me as a gift. My first time to ride her was there in Doha. This [championship] was never part of the plan this year but here we are. She is just amazing and I have a very nice mother!” Nadja said with a big smile.

Flannelly’s top coaching system

ONE of the first Irish people I met on the way to A Coruña – in the airport – was current youth High Performance manager Denis Flannelly who, fresh off gold medal success in Riesenbeck, was travelling to the senior Europeans to coach Dutch-based Portuguese show jumper Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida who stormed to an amazing top-10 round in the opening speed class.

“Denis is a very big, important part of my team, because with him I can share all my doubts, and he can make me very secure as a rider. I trust him 100% on his plan,” said Rodrigo who finished 31st overall. “He helped me already to win the five-star Grand Prix in Mechelen and here we had two amazing results in three days. I know Denis for a few years and we have been training more serious together this year. I’m looking forward for what’s coming next because I have a really big belief in this mare. I think when I have him by my side, we can reach some important titles in the future.”