IRELAND’s top Mounted Games Association (MGA) riders competed at the UK Masters and Junior Home Internationals last weekend in preparation for the upcoming World Championships which will take place at the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet Co Cork on July 13th-16th.

The junior team of Stevie Kieran, Eoin Reavey, George Connolly, Ciaran O’Leary and Leo Kieran competed for the junior Home International title against north England, south England, Scotland and Wales. Both English teams were very impressive from the start and dominated the competition, with Ireland finishing third.

Team trainer Mark Devitt commented: “The English teams are very strong but our Irish team challenged in certain areas. We have speed and we will work on our technical skills in our training in the month ahead. We have the talent and ability in this young team to challenge for the world title.”

Players that stood out this weekend were Irish player Eoin Reavey, for his impressive abilities in the changeovers, and England’s Ella Clarke, for her technical skill and speed.

RESERVE CHAMPIONS

Open riders Jake O’Connor, Alan Keoghan, Craig O’Connor, Simon Mc Keever, Niall Hughes, Aido Hanlon, Mark Devitt and Ben O’Connor travelled to compete in the UK Masters with their respective county teams.

The Leicestershire team of Craig O’Connor, Alan Keoghan (both selected to represent Ireland at the upcoming World Championships), Simon McKeever and Euan Taylor came through the qualifying rounds making it to the A final where they emerged as reserve champions.

Grace Queally and Aodan O’Leary, two up and coming MGA Ireland members, along with teammate Nicholas Tucker from Northern Ireland and guest riders Jon Vaughan and Elliott Barber competed in the Junior UK Masters and claimed the Junior championship after a hard fought final.

Competing against the top junior riders from the UK these young players showed nerves of steel when, with one race to go, they were level on points with a more experienced Bedfordshire team and only one point ahead of Mid Glamorgan.

Each member of the team calmly completed their part of the race and won with ease, to shouts of ‘well done’ from trainer Jerome O’Connor.