No own goal from Sinead

KILCOCK-born international groom Sinead Anglin cheered on the Repubic of Ireland football squad as she snatched a burger in the Son of Bun bar on Port Hercule, Monaco, during Sunday’s Euro match.

Causing great mirth to the French supporters, loyal Sinead waved her arms and shouted at the huge screen, “Come on Ireland, keep going lads.” Eating on the hoof, she gave a wave to the French supporters, who wished her well, and some added how sorry they were.

Bright and breezy, Sinead was en route to packing the lorry for her US rider boss Lauren Hough and was on her first trip to Monaco Show. “This is a job I love. You never stop learning, there is a great work ethic with grooming and I would recommend anyone who loves horses and takes pride in their work to consider it,” she said. Anglin, who previously groomed with Nicola FitzGibbon and Andrew Bourns, has spent time working in the USA. She is now based with Lauren Hough near Cirencester.

Cool under pressure

THANKS to the hardworking Irish grooms on the Longines Global Champions Tour tour, the incredible heat was not an issue at Monaco marina. Co Down groom head hunter Alison McIver of Show Grooms was spotted helping Denis Lynch in the warm-up area.

Rachel Redmond from Dromara, Co Down, was also hard at work with the American horses in her charge, as her father watched from the sidelines enjoying his summer holiday.

Springsteen to rock Dublin

AMERICAN rider Jessica Springsteen looks set to include Dublin Horse Show on her itinerary this year. It looks hopeful she may be a member of the US Nations Cup team, of which she was a valuable member, helping them to Aga Khan victory, two years ago.

Springsteen was in Monaco with her former Peter Charles mount Vindicat W, by the former Irish-owned stallion Guidam, and the mare Davendy S, by Kashmir, a winner in Florida earlier this year.

Cas delights Hanley

CAMERON Hanley is delighted with his young horse Cas, who completed his first Nations Cup at five-star Sopot recently with just a toe in the water for four faults. “I want to thank everyone who has been involved with him so far in his career. I’m very lucky to have such a wonderful young horse coming through. He and I are the same, having been raised and produced in the west of Ireland,” said Hanley who also celebrated being involved in 20 years of Nations Cup competitions. He did his first one in 1996.

“It never gets any less important every time I get the chance to wear the green jacket and represent my country is a great day, for me; that’s what our sport is really about. I want to thank everyone over the years who made it possible - family, grooms, owners, friends, chefs, Irish federation but most importantly...the horses.”