COMMANDANT Geoff Curran of the Irish Army Equitation School has confirmed he will hang up his competitive boots to focus on his role as second-in-command and head trainer at the School.

Commdt Curran has had a prolific career with the Defence Forces after joining as a cadet in 1999 before moving to the Equitation School as an officer in 2001.

His first win followed shortly after in eventing at the Tattersalls three-day-event in May 2002 riding Kilmessan. International acclaim followed soon after, with team eighth at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen with Baladeer Alfred.

Commdt Curran went on to win the World Cup qualifier at Tattersalls in 2008 and represented Ireland at the Beijing Olympic Games with Kilkishen, where the team finished eighth.

He also rode in the Luhmühlen European Championships in 2009 with The Jump Jet and was first reserve at the 2012 London Olympics with Shanaclough Crecora.

After changing his focus to show jumping, Commdt Curran was a member of three winning Nations Cup teams and was the national show jumping champion in 2020 with Glengarra Wood.

Well known as a Puissance specialist, Commdt Curran had five Puissance wins with Bishops Quarter, the biggest of those being his outright win at Dublin in 2023 when he jumped 2.25m.

Commandant Geoff Curran of Ireland celebrates on Bishops Quarter after winning the Defender Puissance during the 2023 Longines FEI Dublin Horse Show at the RDS in Dublin \ David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

He also enjoyed back-to-back wins in Dublin with DHF Alliance; winning the speed stakes in 2024 and the speed championship in 2025. The pair were also second in the speed stakes at Dublin this year. This partnership has been immortalised in a special stamp issue to mark the centenary of the school, which was released in conjunction with the Dublin Horse Show.

Role model

Speaking of her respected colleague was Officer Commanding of the School, Lt Col Sharon Crean. “Geoff has been an ambassador for the Equitation School, Defence Forces and Ireland for the past 25 years,” she said. “With an abundance of professionalism, style and competitiveness, he has mastered a wide range of disciplines, from the three phases of eventing to the Puissance, derby, speed, Nations Cup and Grand Prix classes in the show jumping arena.

“A role model for the next generation of riders, Geoff has served the Equitation School with distinction as a riding officer and, with his depth of competition experience, together with his technical equitation knowledge, the Equitation School is privileged to retain him in the role of Second in Command and Chief Instructor.”

Speaking from Millstreet where he is currently supporting his team, Commdt Curran said it was the right time to step away from competitive riding.

“It’s a strange old feeling now, I must admit!” he said. “But I think it’s the right thing to do. You can end up doing too much and not doing any of it right, so that’s kind of fuelling my decision. What I want most is to do what I am supposed to be doing and do it as well as possible.

“I’ll miss it, obviously, but it’s not as if I’m stepping away - I’m going to get plenty of adrenaline hits following the lads, and last Sunday certainly helped make it easier because it’s clear that following Michaeli (Lt Michaeli Byrne) on her journey with MSH Claregalway is going to be very exciting! We knew it was happening this year, as it’s the Army tradition, but we didn’t make any firm plans. To be fair to the boss, she didn’t put any pressure on me and I made the decision myself, which is a nice way to have it.

Commandant Geoff Curran salutes the crowd after winning the Nortev Speed Championship on DHF Alliance at the 2025 Dublin Horse Show \ Siobhan English

“Lt Raphael Lee is getting the ride on Hawthorn Hill and Lt Byrne is getting DHF Alliance, so the main part of my job going forward will be focussed on training the lads at home and then going to shows with them, nationally and internationally.

“In terms of highlights, I’d have to say both world championships and definitely the Olympics. I think something that I was very proud of was being national show jumping champion in 2020. That horse Glengarra Wood was a favourite of mine, and that particular year he was the only horse to go clear in every one of the Premiers, so he deserved it. Definitely winning the Puissance in Dublin was huge for me and it was a good old fight that year as well!”

A further feature on Commdt Curran’s competitive career will appear in an upcoming edition.