FOURTEEN years after claiming the Irish Masters title at Eglinton Equestrian Club with Linzi Johnson’s Uptown Girl, international show jumper Daniel Coyle made a triumphant return to the packed arena last weekend for the Northern Indoor Championships. Delighting the crowds, the Canadian-based rider produced a sensational double victory, taking the Masters win on Saturday night before returning on Sunday to claim the Grand Prix with Gisborne VDL.
“It’s not always that the planet’s align and that I can go home to compete. I normally have someone riding there for me, [but] my staff made it possible for me to go, so the pressure was on for me to do well for myself and them!” Derry native Daniel commented after a very successful weekend on home turf.
“I won there 14 years ago and I was delighted to claim two wins [this time], as it’s never guaranteed that you will take home the trophy. [Eglinton] was the first place where I competed with ponies, so I have great memories there. A lot has happened in those 14 years, but you never forget those wins. The atmosphere was electric and it was clear that the crowds appreciated that I was there to compete.
“My daughter was also there, which made it even more special. It’s always a difficult one to win and you can never assume that you are going to win any competition. Well done to the show organisers and sponsors for pulling off such a great event, it was great to be part of it,” Coyle concluded.
Strong start
On Friday, Jonathan Smyth got his campaign off to a strong start as he took the win in the 1.30m class. Riding Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig’s 14-year-old Mulvin Lights Out, he was fastest of 11 clears in 28.04 seconds. Galway’s Sven Hadley also got off to a strong start, claiming the next three places.
He delivered his fastest clear with Elka De La Pomme in 28.25 for second. He then partnered John Chadwick’s BE Flygold to a clear in 28.96 for third and was fractions behind with Machnus Lux in 29.43 for eventual fourth. Ben Walsh and the Ronan McLaughlin-owned Creamcorde HDH was just over a second behind in 30.83 for fifth. Completing the top six was JP McGranaghan and Killeenan Ted in 32.68.
Full house
Saturday’s Irish Masters drew a full house, with spectators packing the arena to watch a host of top riders battle it out for the £3,000 prize fund. Sponsored by the Eglinton Equestrian Club and supported by Roxborough Ground Improvements, Agon Ltd and McFadden Civils Ltd, 26 combinations battled it out for this year’s title.
Eight of the original starters proceeded to the timed decider, where each rider nominated a fence to be increased in height for their round. In the end, it was Daniel Coyle and his own Gisborne VDL who emerged victorious. Bred by VDL Stud, the 15-year-old stallion by Zirocco Blue has won at the highest five-star level and is a former Nations Cup winner under Coyle. Just back in Ireland after a trip to Spruce Meadows, Gisborne also placed second at CHIO Aachen in May. He is also campaigned by young rider Aidan O’Brien, who rode the stallion on a winning Irish young rider team in Opglabbeek in March.
The Masters runner-up spot was claimed by John McEntee, who was riding Catriona Fallon’s home-bred Freddy Bear, an in-form nine-year-old by Celtic Hero B.
Sven Hadley accounted for third with Tom McGurk’s home-bred Kannan Contessa. This 10-year-old mare is by Kannan and out of Foxy Cleopatra R. The dam was competed by Eddie Moloney up to 1.30m.
Fourth place was filled by Ben Walsh and Adastra Milo. This nine-year-old mare by Tolan R was bred by Malachy Marron and is owned by Jillian Nelson.
Slotting into fifth place was Paul Caves with his own OBOS Quality 004-sired Quality Night, while in sixth was Kady Abrahamson, who was riding the Daniel Coyle-owned Kannan CK.