THE Stade Equestre du Grand Parc has to be one of the most picturesque venues on the FEI Youth Nations Cup circuit. Nestled in the state forest near the charming town of Compiègne, it offers a carnivalesque feel with artisan food tents offering local food and wine, sun loungers, rustic tables and twinkling fairy lights at night. It almost felt like being at a music festival with horses rather than some of the more commercial venues.

The Nations Cup classes started on Friday in the Decarpentry Arena with the U18 CSIOJ 1.40m competition where 11 teams took on Xavier Trouhilet’s flowing course which presented some inventive lines that overall rode very well.

Team chef d’equipe Denis Flannelly and Liz Brennan fielded a strong team of Paddy Reape with Mr Rocky Blue, Isobel Sheehan with Athea Clover Trend, Isabel O’Brien with Javas Gucci and Lauren Adams with Caddie Z. It was a gruelling class and, as with the Junior Nations Cup in Sentower where Ireland took silver, it went to a third round to decide the gold. This time Amhrán na Bhfiann rang out in Compiègne as Ireland took the win by a margin of just 1.03 seconds from Germany in second with Belgium in third.

It is a sign of the strength in depth of the Irish Juniors that only one of the Irish riders, Lauren Adams, also lined up on the team in Sentower. Lauren and Caddie Z produced one of only four double clears in the class, but Paddy Reape went one better, delivering one of just two triple clears on the nine-year-old Mr Rocky Blue.

Paddy has been riding this horse for the last year and a half, but the combination had a curtailed season last year due to Paddy breaking his shoulder. It was Mr Rocky Blue’s first international show and he is relatively new to this level. “I was delighted with how easy he found the step up in class and he just got better and better every day,” said Paddy’s father Jonathan Reape after the win.

The joy in the Irish camp afterwards was insatiable, but while many of the parents enjoyed a social drink in the evening in the ‘village’, it was pleasing to see that while all athletes enjoyed music and dancing, they adhered to Denis Flannelly’s strict ‘no drinking’ policy.

Liz Brennan embraces Isobel Sheehan after winning the Junior Nations Cup at the FEI Youth Nations Cup Show in Compiègne \ Seale Transport Team

Multiple winners

The Irish flag was also flying in the Delahaye Arena on Friday when the legendary Little Smithe and Sam Widger came out on top of the CSIOP 1.20m Table A.

Saturday saw Paddy Reape once again taking the honours, this time on his stalwart partner Creevagh Special in the CSIOJ 1.40m Special Two Phases, while Sam Widger and Little Smithe did the double, taking the CSIOP 1.25m Two phases.

On Sunday it was an early start for the CSIOP 1.30m Grand Prix over a strong track that caused plenty of problems. Two Irish riders - Sam Widger with Western Ranger and Charlie Flynn with Montana - made it through to the jump-off. Sam was early to go and he rode an aggressive, accurate round with Western Ranger that looked like it would be hard to beat, but Charlie Flynn went one better with eight-year-old Montana.

Montana first came to prominence when winning the RDS six/seven-year-old Championship in 2024 and is just stepping up to Grand Prix level. A calm and assured ride from Charlie allowed the talented young mare to use her stride and scope without ever realising how daring she was being and her extra length of stride allowed her to take the win, leaving it an Irish one-two.

“We bought Montana at the end of 2023,” said Charlie’s father Jack, “so Charlie competed her all last year. She’s a lovely easy pony to do everything with and she’s very scopey and careful.”

Faultless

The Children’s CSIOCh 1.25m Grand Prix was held in the Delahaye Arena and Lucia Keane was the only Irish rider to make it through to a 23-strong jump-off. After a great show in Sentower with both horses and ponies, Lucia and her horse Elia managed to round off her trip to Compiègne with second place, keeping a faultless record over three days of competition.

The final Grand Prix of the show for the Irish was the CSIOJ 1.40m. Six Irish riders lined out in a field of 83 starters with four progressing to a 26-strong jump-off. Lauren Adams, opting to rest her Nations Cup horse in favour of her second horse, Quina DW, took the win by just six-hundredths of a second.

Lauren Adams at the FEI Youth Nations Cup Show in Compiègne \ Seale Transport Team

Quina DW was previously ridden to 1.35m level by Lauren’s sister, Maisie, before Lauren took over the ride when Maisie went to college. With just four shows done together before Compiègne, it was a big step up for the pair in their first Grand Prix. “Quina has always been super careful and brave, but rideability was a bit of an issue with her,” said Lauren afterwards. “Maisie, with help from Denis Flannelly, really improved this over the last two years. Today I tried to see flowing distances because I can trust her to run and jump and still stay careful.

"I was confident beforehand that she was ready to step up and go well, but never in a million years did I think we would win such a strong class at our first attempt!”

Paddy Reape, meanwhile, put the icing on the cake for the Irish Juniors with a strong fifth place on his Nations Cup horse Mr Rocky Blue.

Reflecting afterwards on outstanding individual and team performances, Denis Flannelly was in buoyant mood. “I am so proud of what they achieved at the show. The spirit among families, coaches and grooms all helps to contribute to successes like this. For the Juniors to win the Nations Cup and to battle in the style that they did, and then to take two wins and two second places in the three Individual Grand Prix categories, Ponies, Juniors and COH, is a testament to the strength and fighting spirit of the Irish.”

Denis Flannelly at the FEI Youth Nations Cup Show in Compiègne \ Seale Transport Team

“I was delighted that we got the win with the Juniors this weekend after such a loss by the narrowest of margins in Sentower Park,” added Liz Brennan. “The Grand Prix wins for Charlie Flynn and Lauren Adams topped off another great show for Team Ireland.”

Fran Rush with her father Francie Kerins at the FEI Youth Nations Cup Show in Compiègne \ Seale Transport Team

Sarah Jane Fagan and Zelda O'Callaghan at the FEI Youth Nations Cup Show in Compiègne \ Seale Transport Team