THE medals keep rolling in for Ireland at the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) young horse show jumping championships - and then there’s the fact that Irish riders would top a similar WBFSH competition for the nation with the most medal-winning riders, based on per head of population.
Both Eoin Brennan and Mikey Pender won a final apiece at Lanaken, with the home-bred Augustus Z and HHS Private Ryan respectively, while on the ISH-suffix front, there were two more medals for Martin Egan’s Tysons Lady Lux (bronze, five-year-olds) and Fiona and Michael Roche’s BP Othello (silver, six-year-olds).
Their latest wins now bring the tally of silver and bronze medals won by Irish Sport Horses in Lanaken to 10 and six respectively. Plus, there were more top-10 ISH placings recorded in the seven-year-old final. The 2023 Lanaken five-year-old champion Boleybawn Alvaro (Dominator 2000 Z - Arina, by Crown Z. Breeder: Ronan Rothwell. Rider: Niamh McEvoy) finished fifth and Bjurfors Nikora (Aganix Du Seigneur - Britt W, by AD Unaniem. Breeder: Nigel Poynton. Rider: Jonna Ekberg (SWE)) placed 10th.
Niall and Andrew Hughes, Ennisnag Stud, where Lanaken medallist BP Othello was bred \ Susan Finnerty
Aganix Du Seigneur was the stand-out stallion in this seven-year-old final and 60% of the nine medallists, including all three gold medal horses, represented a Benelux studbook. We’ll look at the degree of ‘Irishness’ in next week’s feature; for now, here’s the 2025 champions that have joined the Lanaken roll of honour.
Niamh McEvoy and BP Othello on their way to the silver medal in the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for six-year-old horses at Lanaken \ Sportfot
Lanaken 2025 Champions
Five-year-olds
Gold - HHS Private Ryan (KWPN). El Barone III Z (ZANG) - La Vie D’Or (KWPN), by High Shutterfly (KWPN). Breeder: M. Van Der Velde. Rider: Mikey Pender (IRL).
Silver - Olympic Van’t Roosakker VK Z (ZANG). Minute Man (BWP) - Ikea Van’t Roosakker (BWP). Breeder: M. Van Kleef/Stoeterij van Kleef. Rider: Doron Kuipers (NED).
Bronze - Tysons Lady Lux (ISH). Tyson (KWPN) - Lux Brigade (ISH), by Lux Z (HANN). Breeder: Shay Henson. Rider: Jason Foley (IRL).
Six-year-olds
Gold - Ortane (KWPN). Balou du Rouet (OLD) - Polly (HOLST), by Quinar Z (HOLST). Breeder: D. Van De Linden and C. Van Der Heijden. Rider: Max Van De Poll (NED).
Silver - BP Othello (ISH). H5 Ganesh Hero Z (ZANG) - Adelheid (KWPN), by Tygo (KWPN). Breeder: Ennisnag Stud. Rider: Niamh McEvoy (IRL).
Bronze - Touch Of Joy Dwerse Hagen (BWP). Nixon Van’t Meulenhof (BWP) - Classic Touch DH (HOLST) by Casall ASK (HOLST). Rider: Thibeau Spits (BEL).
Seven-year-olds
Gold - Augustus Z (ZANG). Aganix Du Seigneur Z (sBs) - GCS Athena (ISH), by Vigo d’Arsouilles (BWP). Breeder: Tim Brennan. Rider: Eoin Brennan (IRL).
Silver - Speedy Van Klapscheut (BWP). Chaiton F Z (ZANG) - Prima Van Klapscheut Z (ZANG), by Peppermill (KWPN). Breeder: Mivaro BP. Rider: Niels Von Rossem (BEL).
Bronze - Ici Et La Courcelle (SF). Cocktail De Talma (SF) - Troublante Courcelle (SF), by Kashmir Van Schuttershof (sBS). Breeder:Yves Chauvin. Rider: Thibault Thevenon (FRA).
By the numbers
€65,107 - prize money won by horses ridden by Mikey Pender at Lanaken, moving the Kildare rider up to second place in the top-earning riders’ table, headed by Christian Ahlmann.
€25,000 - gold medal prize money for Augustus Z in the seven-year-old final.
€12,500 - take home pay for six-year-old champion: Ortane.
€8,500 - Ortane’s price at the 2019 Borculo Springveulen (Show jumping foal) auction.
€3,750 - for HHS Private Ryan’s savings.
11 - Lanaken gold medals won by Irish Sport Horses: NLS Coole Al Clover (2010), Arraghbeg Clover (2013), Killossery Kaiden (2016), Columbcille Gipsy (2017), Uppercourt Cappuccino (2018), Rockwell RC and Cuffesgrange Cavadora (2019), ABC Saving Grace and BP Goodfellas (2022), HHS Ocala (2023) and HHS Mercedes (2024).
Three - gold medal horses for Benelux studbooks - KWPN and Zangersheide - at the WBFSH championships this year.
Two - HHS Private Ryan (five-year-olds) and Ortane (six-year-olds), the KWPN gold medal champions.
One - Cuffesgrange Cavadora (ISH) is still ranked as number one amongst the top-earning horses at these WBFSH championships (€27,777), followed by HHS Mercedes (€25,555) and Augustus Z (€25,262).
Roll Of Honour (2000 - 2025)
GOLD
2010 - NLS Coole Al Clover (Aladatus Z - Laurel Lodge, by Clover Hill. Breeder: Brian Kenny).
2013 - Arraghbeg Clover (Captain Clover - Blidsworth Lion Queen, by Bonnie Prince. Breeder: Agata Leonard).
2016 - Killossery Kaiden (Lux Z - Killossery Kruisette, by Cruising. Breeder: Frank and Laura Glynn).
2017 - Columbcille Gipsy (Toulon - Gipsy III, by Grundyman. Breeder: Eamonn Murphy).
2018 - Uppercourt Cappuccino (Pacino - Uppercourt Posh, by O.B.O.S Quality. Breeder: Paul O’Byrne).
2019 - Rockwell RC (Kannan - Urban Sea, by Guidam. Breeder: Ronan Byrne).
2019 - Cuffesgrange Cavadora (Wellie 72 - Cuffesgrange Cavalidam, by Luidam. Breeder: Eamonn Sheehan).
2022 - ABC Saving Grace (Kannan - Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser, by Cruising. Breeder: Pat Kehoe).
2022 - BP Goodfellas (Stakkato Gold - Goodwins Loyalty, by O.B.O.S Quality. Breeder: Kevin Babington and GBBS Int. Ltd).
2023 - HHS Ocala (Urano de Cartigny - Hera van’t Roosakker, by Wandor van de Mispelaere. Breeder: Bravo Hughes Ltd).
2024 - HHS Mercedes. (Can Ya Makan - Chester Lass, by Couletto. Breeder: Bravo Hughes Ltd).
SILVER
2001 - Master Ballinteskin (Master Imp - Cushinstown Glory, by Hail Titan. Breeder: Simon McCarthy).
2009 - Drumiller Lough (Heartbreaker - Pearl Diver, by Mountain Pearl. Breeder: Paul Dillon).
2014 - Ard Ginger Pop (Luidam - Derrylea Grey Lady, by Cruising. Breeder: Heather Dean-Wright).
2015 - MHS Washington (O.B.O.S Quality 004 - Mill Royale, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Ita Brennan).
2016 - Z Seven Caretina (Coltaire Z - Caretina, by Caretino. Breeder: Marion Hughes).
2018 - CSF Sir George (Sir Shutterfly - Norrira, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Shane Connolly).
2019 - MHS Cardenta (Cardento - Willow Point, by Diamond Serpent. Breeder: Tom Brennan).
2023 - Boleybawn Alvaro. (Dominator 2000 Z - Arina, by Crown Z. Breeder: Ronan Rothwell).
2023 - Laurina. (Stakkato Gold - Rincarina, by Cruising. Breeder: Noel Cawley).
2025 - BP Othello.
BRONZE
2010 - Ballypatrick Mystique (Heritage Fortunus - Lady Ligustra, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Ita Brennan).
2016 - Z Seven Canya Dance (Can Ya Makan - HHS Chantilly Lace, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Anne Hughes).
2018 - HHS Vancouver (Indoctro - La Juanita, by Don Juan de la Bouverie. Breeder: Marion Hughes).
2023 - Ballyshan B F Super Hero. (Celtic Hero B Z - Ballyshan Lux Important, by Lux Z. Breeder: Gary Doherty).
2024 - BP Royalty. (Comme Il Faut - Goodwins Loyalty, by O.B.O.S Quality 004. Breeder: GBBS Int. Ltd).
2025 - Tysons Lady Lux.
Eoin Brennan and Augustus Z leads the lap of honour after winning the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship 2025 for Seven-Year-Olds at Lanaken \ FEI/Hippo Foto Media - Dirk Caremans
What they said
“I was in Lanaken in 2012 and in 2023 on a Teagasc tour, only as a spectator! It was a great experience and the whole operation was run very smoothly, on time and it is a great opportunity to talk to other breeders from around the world.
“I’m just a small breeder with two mares. I wanted to breed a mare which would be good enough to cover with top stallions and started off with Secret Cove, a thoroughbred mare. Her first foal was a Clover Brigade filly named My Secret Brigade. I covered her with Lux Z and she had a filly named Lux Brigade. As a three-year-old, she came third in Millstreet and I now had my ideal broodmare.
“I’d seen Tyson jump in Dublin and in Europe. I thought he was fantastic and made a great shape over a fence, so when he came to Kylemore Stud, I had to have a Tyson. I covered Lux Brigade with Tyson and her first foal was a colt named Tyson Junior, now six years old and eventing with Nicola Ennis.
“I went back to Tyson and that filly is Tysons Lady Lux. As three-year-olds, I send my horses to Henry and Joanne Foley (H&J Sport Horses), because they do a great job producing the horses for sales. Tysons Lady Lux was in the Go For Gold sale as a three-year-old but wasn’t sold and Martin Egan bought her later.
“Broken and produced by Claire Fisher, Jason Foley then took over the ride and, with the help of Ger O’Neill and the Castlefield Sport Horses team, produced her to her current level.
“I also have a Colandro three-year-old half-sister, in foal to Caracas and a two-year-old full-sister.
“I was delighted to have bred a horse good enough to go to Lanaken but Martin, the owner, was so confident that he kept telling me to book a second seat on the plane home for the Big Cheque!”
– Shay Henson
“I went over on Tuesday and came back on Sunday night. Lanaken is a fantastic show, everything is contained in the one area.
“You get to meet a lot of people, so it’s a good networking and social opportunity to catch up with friends and family.
“The breeders are respected in Lanaken, because you get that financial reward and you’re brought into the ring along with the riders and the horses and you all get your due time as well. They really make you special.
“I think the huge advantage we have over everybody else is our production system, our land and our talented horsemen and women. You have Mikey Pender, Niamh McEvoy, Jason Foley, Shane [Dalton, fifth with Ennisnag Stud’s Unicom-H in the five-year-old final], Leah Stack and Eoin Brennan’s win in the seven-year-olds - they were unbelievable at Lanaken.
“They’re all super-talented and the beauty is they’re here in Ireland. They could go anywhere, get a job in North America or Europe in the morning and it’s a credit to Greg [Broderick], Ger [O’Neill] and Marion [Hughes] that they’re all at home, which is even better. Kudos to Greg, Ger, Marion and the other stables for that.
“ESI Rocky was sold, it just keeps everything ticking over for the other horses. We bred BP Othello that won the silver medal in the six-year-old final with Niamh and our own Unicom-H was just unlucky in the five-year-old final.
“He was only 0.12 off a medal with Shane, who did a super job, and they finished fifth.
“We’ve left Unicom-H in Belgium with Harold Megahey, so while he’s on a break, we’ll ‘freeze’ him. He’ll be even stronger and better next year and I think he’s only at the start of his career.”
– Andrew Hughes, Ennisnag Stud.
Next week: What is an Irish Sport Horse?