JAMES Kernan has come full circle, from winning an individual gold medal for Ireland at the Junior European Championships in 1974 to managing the Irish Junior and Young Rider teams, who both secured gold medals, as well as Young Rider individual gold and Junior individual silver medals in 2023.

It was always likely that James, who is from Co Armagh, would become involved with horses. His grandfather was a horse dealer and used to buy horses for the Egyptian Army and the Italian Army, while James’ father Frank got into show jumping and produced horses for himself to jump at shows.

James began show jumping as a child and his talent quickly became evident. In 1972, at the age of 14, he was on the Irish Junior team at the European Championships in Cork, which was a great experience for him.

His grandfather had bought an accomplished show jumping mare called Marcella; she had won with Ned Cash, Seamus Hayes and Tommy Brennan. His grandfather decided not to sell the mare and said she was to be kept for James to ride at the Europeans. His dad was in agreement and wanted James to win the gold medal! In 1973, James went to the Europeans in Belgium with Marcella and finished fifth individually.

Then, in 1974, at the age of 16, James was on the Irish team at the Junior European Championships at Lucerne in Switzerland. He rode Marcella to win the individual gold medal and was the first Irish rider to become Junior European Champion.

Aga Khan

James didn’t stop there. When he was 18 (in 1976), he had his first Aga Khan spin on a horse called Spring Trout. Ireland came second that year, behind Germany.

In 1977, James rode Condy, as part of the Irish ‘dream team’ along with Paul Darragh, Captain Con Power and Eddie Macken, to win the Aga Khan Trophy. This team were untouchable and won three years in a row from 1977 until 1979.

“Condy was a great horse; he jumped eight clear rounds with one fence down over three years (in the Aga Khan). It went to a jump-off twice,” Kernan told The Irish Field.

Condy retired around 1984 and James struggled to get a horse of his calibre, until he produced Spring Elegance, when riding for the late Nicholas Connors from Co Waterford. When James broke his leg in 1991, the horse was passed to Francis Connors.

The Kernan family then bred the famous Touchdown and James produced him, jumping him up to 1.60m level. The pair won the National Championships in Salthill, Co Galway in 1992.

“He had scope, he was careful and he was a fighter,” says James. “He was unbelievable!”

Olympics

James was back on the Aga Khan team in 1992 with Touchdown; Ireland won the trophy again that year! That same year, they also went to the Olympic Games in Barcelona, where they were the highest placed combination on the Irish team.

The Irish team who famously won the Aga Khan three years in row, l to r, Paul Darragh (Heather Honey), Capt. Con Power (Coolronan), James Kernan (Condy) and Eddie Macken (Boomerang) \ RDS Archives

Their next show, at Millstreet in Co Cork, was to have a profound impact on the future… Touchdown came down a bank and chipped a bone in his stifle area. He was never the same horse again - he was only 10.

James retired Touchdown shortly after that, but he turned out to be a prolific stallion. He had many successful progeny, including Dermott Lennon’s Liscalgot, who won the World Championships in 2002.

After Touchdown retired from competition, James went back to producing, buying and selling young horses. He was always on the look out for another special horse, but didn’t find one of the same calibre.

For several years, James was on committees for SJAI (Show jumping Association of Ireland), now SJI (Showjumping Ireland), and HSI (Horse Sport Ireland). He became chairman of John Ledingham’s Junior and Young Rider committee for four years, then, when John retired, James put his hat in the ring for the role. He had previously been interested in the role of chef for the Irish senior team, but when that passed him over, he took on his current role with the Youth teams in 2017. The teams have enjoyed considerable success since then.

There were no medals for the Youth teams in 2017, when they competed in Šamorín (Slovakia), but Kernan says: “Michael G Duffy and Jonathan Smyth were both on the Young Rider team that year and it’s great to see how they have both gone on to do brilliant things and further their careers.”

Medals

In 2018, the Junior and Young Rider European Championships were at Fontainebleau (France) and the Irish were on the podium. Rhys Williams won the gold medal in the Children on Horses, while the Children’s team took silver. In the Juniors, Jason Foley secured gold and the Irish team took bronze. This was only James’ second year in charge.

2019 saw the European Championships being held in Zuidwolde (The Netherlands), where Kate Derwin won the Junior gold medal and the Junior team took bronze.

There was no competition in 2020, due to Covid, but in 2021, the European Championships moved to Lisbon (Portugal). James was unable to attend as he had Covid, but his assistant Liam Buckley went in his place. Ireland came home with the Young Rider team silver.

In 2022, the championships were held in Oliva, Spain, and the Irish Junior team brought home the bronze medal. Harry Allen won the Young Rider individual bronze - this was Ireland’s first ever Young Rider individual medal.

This year, Gorla Minora in Italy hosted the European Championships and what a year it was for the Irish.

“I had looked at the list of medals and there were no team golds… I told the teams that I didn’t want silvers or bronzes and they delivered, both teams!” the proud manager said.

The Junior and Young Rider teams both stood top of the podium with their gold medals. Team Ireland further reinforced their position in the world of show jumping when Seamus Hughes Kennedy won the Young Rider individual gold and Tom Wachman secured the Junior individual silver medal.

The Irish Young Rider (U21) team of Max Wachman, Rhys Williams, Seamus Hughes Kennedy, Niamh McEvoy, Ciaran Nallon and team manager James Kernan stand on the podium after taking the gold medal at the FEI European Championships in Gorla Minore, Italy \ Image via Irish Horse Board

When asked about his approach and how he selects his teams, Kernan says: “I watch the results to see who is on form. We have very talented riders in Ireland, which makes it easier! I follow the results to pick the best team; my job is to pick the right team and get them jumping in the right order… Ireland are now keeping better horses, so good riders are now on top quality horses.

He continues: “This year, after the championships, French former Olympic show jumper Michel Robert said that the Irish were a different class to all the other teams, with the quality of their riding and the quality of the horses!”

What a compliment to Ireland. James went on to explain that all his team members have great trainers, with first-hand knowledge of this level of competition - Cian O’Connor, Denis Flannery, Ger O’Neill and Greg Broderick - and they are all in attendance at these shows, helping on the ground.

James won his individual gold in 1974; this was followed up by Brian McMahon winning gold in 1975 with Heather Honey. Paul Darragh later took over the ride of this horse and together they were on that three-in-a-row Aga Khan winning team.

Ireland didn’t win Junior gold again until 2018, 43 years later - with James as team manager - and then won again in 2019, repeating the previous back-to-back success.

“Medals are great for these kids; they are for life. It is a great honour to represent your country. My gold medal is as important to me now, as it was in 1974.”

He is quick to acknowledge that he is only able to travel with the Irish teams because he knows he can rely on his partner Linda being at home and keeping the equestrian centre (Kernan Equestrian Centre in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh) running smoothly.

Looking to the future

Going forward, James is happy that Ireland has good teams for next year.

“Over the past six years, I have had great help from Liam Buckley and Sally Ann Tobin, who was chair of the Junior and Young Rider committees,” Kernan comments.

Those committees are no longer in place, as they were removed this year.

“It’s great to see these talented young riders move on in their careers and have success. These teams give the riders good experience of high pressure jumping. It’s good grounding for them.”

Kernan plans to continue with the same approach, watching and selecting the best combinations; he watches the results on Clip My Horse.

James Kernan's daughter Alicia riding Avas Ruby, winners of the 128cm 1m at the TRI Autumn Pony Tour at the Meadows, Lurgan \ Tori O'C Photography

Meanwhile, the next generation of the Kernan family is following in her dad’s footsteps. James’ daughter Alicia, now 10 years old, was on her first team for the Home Pony Internationals at Cavan on the day that her father flew out to the Europeans. She started on the right note with a double clear round.

“I am really enjoying watching Alicia compete and bringing her up through the grades,” Kernan enthused.

In conclusion, he says: “It is important that we invest in the youth teams going forward, as they are the senior teams of the future. Parents are under great expense in order for their children to get out and compete at these European shows, to prepare mentally and gain that vital experience.

“Financial support towards travel, preparation and training is needed for horses and riders to win medals for Ireland.”