IRELAND’S young riders never fail to impress both at home and abroad and their accomplishments in 2025 once again deserve the highest praise.

While competing abroad, Irish young riders delivered a string of outstanding performances - including a Team Silver at the 2025 FEI Jumping European Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany. What follows are just a few highlights from what was truly another remarkable year.

TRM Spring Tour

Kilkenny young rider Robin Carey claimed final victory and the overall title in the TRM Showjumper Club competition at Coilog. The young rider was also crowned the leading young rider and, as a result, is set to join the TRM Young Rider ambassador portfolio. Carey, who was riding his own Luicruz, delivered the winning round of clear in a time of 38.03 in an exciting 12-way jump-off. This combination proved consistent over the course of the league, which included wins in Tipperary and Maryville, sixth in Warrington and third in Jag.

Dublin Horse Show

The Dublin Horse Show is the pinnacle of show jumping for senior riders, and this is no different for young riders, who earned their place over the hotly-contested qualifiers. Once in Simmonscourt, pressure mounted in all young rider divisions. In the 1.35m-1.40m, the Reape brothers from County Sligo dominated this championship on Friday afternoon, with Senan and Paddy Reape securing the top two spots. Facing a strong field of 15 starters, their exceptional performances ensured that both the championship trophy and the reserve title headed west to Sligo.

First of the Reapes to take it on was Paddy with Mr Rocky Blue, setting the time to beat of 33.79 seconds. Last to go with the ever-consistent Creevagh Special, Senan went on to better negotiate the target, stopping the clock in a time of 32.48 seconds to take the title and, in the process, demote his brother Paddy into second place.

It had been an outstanding month for the Reape family - Paddy played a key role in helping the Irish Junior team capture gold at the European Championships, while Senan claimed victory in the Millstreet two-star Grand Prix with Creevagh Special.

Also in this championship, Katie Nallon had her eye on a win and a gallant attempt with CW Luiboutain saw her take third, ahead of European Champion Emily Moloney with her European Championship mount, Temple Alice. Annie Boland and Calisto Blanc rounded out the top five, while European Pony Champion, Cian McMunn and Lisboy Emerald took sixth place.

Taking the title in the 1.25m-1.30m division was Jamie Clarke aboard Victoria Clarke’s Sydney Pmd, while James Derwin and Amos LZ claimed the reserve title. Third place was filled by Bridin Doyle and Boleybawn Rigaletto, ahead of Katie Nallon and Mulvin Cliodam. Conrad Sweeney and Domino Van De Valhoeve slotted into fifth, ahead of Iseult Fleming and Cristallo.

Winner of the 1.10m-1.15m Championship was Edie Codd and HDI Restless, after a nail-biting nine-way jump-off. The reserve title was claimed by Max Foley and Illusion De Hus, ahead of Ciara Geaney and CS Lux Chacco.

Tom Aita Tagle and Quinlan’s Hero put in a gallant attempt to take fourth place, while Millie Jeffers slotted into fifth. Emily Moloney and Mfe Class Diamante completed the top six line-up.

RDS Bursary class

A firm favourite with spectators, four riders were chosen to contest the RDS Bursary class on Sunday. Those chosen riders were Paddy Reape (Mr Rocky Blue), Emily Moloney (Tick A Lu), Senan Reape (Creevagh Special) and Cian McMunn (Lisboy Emerald). It was a memorial few weeks for the Reape family, as Paddy was awarded the Bursary, along with the Iris Kellett Perpetual Challenge Trophy.

These riders were put through their paces by English Show jumping Performance Manager, Di Lampard.

In the main arena in Dublin Horse Show, after gaining her place through an unbelievable performance, the European Championship team silver medallist Niamh McEvoy announced herself in the senior ranks in style by claiming the prestigious Dublin Stakes with the talented 10-year-old Flora Du Mesnil. McEvoy capped off an extraordinary summer season in style, being crowned National Show jumping Champion at the Irish Breeders’ Classic last Saturday. The young rider dominated the Plusvital Premier Series, winning all but one of the seven rounds, losing one round to Mikey Pender and HHS Cyprus in Balmoral. McEvoy won the first round with Rock Warrior, the third and fourth leg with Flora Du Mesnil, the second, the penultimate and final leg with Olympic ‘GL’ ‘FVD’.

National Young Rider Championships

Mullingar Equestrian played host to Young Rider Championships in August. With titles on the line over two action-packed days, every point mattered. By Sunday, the champions were crowned: Ruby Lily Gaines and Castle Lux Clover took home both the overall Rider/Horse Combination title and the Junior Championship. Billy Sinnott, riding GCS Jasmine, secured the Young Rider Combination title, while Charlotte Butler and Kingstone King claimed victory in the Children on Horses title. The action began on Saturday with the 1.10m Welcome Stakes and it was Wicklow’s Cian Byrne that got his campaign off to a good start, as he took the honours in the opening class aboard China Man.

Double European gold medallist, Emily Moloney made her presence felt on home soil, as she took the win in the later 1.20m Challenge class with Ian Smyth’s Cruising on the Ridge. A total of 33 combinations took on the 1.30m-1.35m class for the €1,000 on offer and the standard was high with 16 double clears being delivered. Leading this victory lap was Leinster rider, Ruby Lily Gaines and Castle Lux Clover.

Taking the win in the 1.10m/1.20m two-phase was Connaught’s Mark Neilan aboard New Haven Star. Leinster’s Mia Murphy took the win in the 90cm class aboard Enniskerry Pierro, while Abbey Flynn and Sarco claimed victory in the 1m. On Sunday, first in to contest their championship were the 47 combinations in the 1.10m class. Taking this title was Leinster’s Isabelle Boland with Boleybawn Reverie. Wicklow’s Cian Byrne took another win as he claimed the 1m Championship aboard China Man, when he was the fastest of four double clears.

Munster’s Brid Ryan made her presence felt in the Mervue Equine Leinster Tour and she added to her impressive record when she claimed the 1.20m Championship. Riding Drombane Foxy Lady, she took the title when she was fastest of the seven double clears. It was a good day in the office for Wexford’s Isabelle Boland as she claimed another title. This time riding the eight-year-old MBF Maxwill, she was fastest of six double clears. Just 27 combinations lined out to contest the €5,000 1.40m Championship and, with the pressure on, only one double clear was delivered. Answering all the questions was Ulster’s Cara McFadden with Genitus Pommex Z.

In the Premier Performance National Grand Prix, the combination of Camryn Clarke and Conto De Reve finished second to the winner, Francis Connors (Carrigshawn Vendi Royal), while Tom Wachman (I’m Here) finished third, and Daisy McNamara on Capetito Z finished fifth.

Millstreet CSI2*

Young riders also made their presence felt in the Millstreet CSI2*. International jumping in Millstreet came to an exciting close with the highly anticipated Grand Prix. Leading the victory lap and taking home close to €10,000 was Sligo’s Senan Reape aboard Creevagh Special. Reape left his rivals behind, when as last to go, he lodged a clear in 41.78 seconds. The pairing had demonstrated form earlier in the week as they took third in the 1.40m Grand Prix qualifier. Katie Nallon was also in the winner’s enclosure in Millstreet, claiming the 1.35m two-phase with CW Luiboutain. On Saturday, it was Isabelle Boland, who took the win in The Irish Horse Board 1.25m Table A Jump-Off. Riding MBF Maxwill, she was one of only six double clears. Billy Sinnott and Ridge Douglas Lady slotted into third.

Katie Nallon emerged as the winner of the Clip My Horse 1.35m Two-Phase. Going early in the class, she maintained her lead with Mulvin Cliodam. Late to go in the class, Camryn Clarke and Conto De Reve had to contend with second, ahead of Daisy McNamara and Caspetito Z. Rhys Williams and Dominante Z took fourth, while Senan Reape and Ceanna Bonneville PS secured fifth.

Wexford Gain Alltech Autumn GP

In November, the Gain Alltech Grand Prix in Wexford Equestrian saw Young Riders lead the way, securing five of the top six placings. Throughout the day, young riders were prominent across the results. Local rider Lauren Adams proved to be a popular winner of the class aboard Caddie Z. Fellow junior rider Alanna Fagan and Billy Hastings followed closely behind Adams, ahead of young rider James Brennan and MHS Drops of Jupiter, who was last of the double clears. Young rider, Max Foley put in a very fast time with Marion Hughes’s seven-year-old, HHS Kingston, but it came at a price as he had one on the ground for eventual fourth. Sixth place belonged to Leinster young rider Anna White and SBH Diamond In the Rough.

Silver medal success

Across the European circuit, young riders stood out, excelling against some of the strongest competition they’ve faced.

In July, Ireland added to their medal haul at the 2025 FEI Jumping European Championships after the Young Riders (Under-21) team secured silver in Riesenbeck. On a dramatic afternoon in Germany, Michael Blake’s squad of Tim Brennan, Max Foley, Niamh McEvoy, Tom Wachman and Coen Williams just gave way to a talented Belgian team.

Ireland held a slender advantage after the first two days of competition, having produced six clear rounds. First in was Wachman and Obora’s Laura, who had sat 11th overnight individually and had jumped a clear round on the second day of proceedings.

Wachman delivered a crucial clear to apply massive pressure on Belgium, who had a four-fault score with their first combination.

Williams and Floris R Z were foot-perfect, leaving all poles standing, but finished with three-time penalties, which would prove crucial at the finish.

Brennan and Diadema Della Caccia, faulted at the middle pole of the combination for a total of four faults and thus handing Belgium the advantage before Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy and the Austin Broderick-bred BP Rocket Man (ISH) jumped clear as last to go.

That left Ireland as silver medal winners on a final score of 7.61 and when Belgium completed the final round with three clears, they claimed the gold medal with a score of 5.72, while Britain secured bronze on 24.05. In the individual rankings, Tom Wachman was best of the Irish in fifth, while Tim Brennan finished in eighth.