IRISH eyes were certainly smiling at the FEI World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanakan as Irish riders and Irish Sport Horses completely dominated the five-year old final at the Belgian venue, taking gold, silver and bronze in a clean sweep of the medals last Sunday.

The Irish contingent were in a very strong position going in to the weekend finals, with 11 combinations qualified from a total of 709 horses entered across the five, six and seven-year-old categories for the Championships.

Representing Ireland in the five-year-old division at Zangersheide were eventual gold medal winner Sligo’s Richard Howley with Uppercourt Cappucino (ISH), silver medal winner Ballypatrick Stables’ Darragh Ryan (CSF Sir George), bronze medal winner Kildare’s Mikey Pender (HHS Vancouver & MHS New York) and Kevin Gallagher (Presidential Ball).

In the six-year-old finals, the Irish riders were Jack Ryan (BBS McGregor) and former Lanaken gold medal winner Ger O’Neill (Cuffesgrange Cavadora), while those earning their place in the final of the seven-year-olds were Mayo international show jumper Cameron Hanley (ESI Toulouse), Mikey Pender (HHS Geneva), Kilkenny’s Susan Fitzpatrick (Keatingstown Z Wellie Two), Darragh Ryan (Lackamore Storm) and Mark Finnerty (All Action).

Following a nail-biting competition, Sligo’s Richard Howley and Uppercourt Cappucino (ISH), who were crowned the new five-year-old World Champions. The combination put in a blistering when they delivered the fastest of the 12 double clears in 35.17 seconds. Uppercourt Cappucino was bred by Paul O’Byrne and is now owned by HK Horses. The gelding is by Uppercourt Cappucino (ISH) by Pacino (BWP) out of Uppercourt Posh (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004. Although only together a short time, the combination have gelled well and took a win at the Lier CSIYH1* in mid-August.

A delighted Richard Howley said: “I bought him [Uppercourt Cappucino] after a show in Millstreet. The horse was owned at that time by Ger O’Neill [Castlefield Sport Horses] and Jason Higgins. Jason had produced the horse as a four-year-old and I bought him at the back end of this year. He [Uppercourt Cappucino] has only done a handful of shows in his life and the horse is so mature in his mind he is just like riding an eight-year-old. It’s a good day for the Irish and a good day to be Irish. I think the world of this horse, he has done enough now for this year. It’s amazing, I came here two years ago to watch, and this is my first time riding here and it’s an absolute thrill to ride here in front of this wonderful crowd.”

The silver medal went to Tipperary’s Darragh Ryan with CSF Sir George (ISH) when they crossed the line just 0.17 behind the winner’s time in 35.34. Bred by Shane Connolly and owned by Molly Tracy, CSF Sir George is by Pacino out of the Cavalier Royale-sired dam Norrira. This partnership had proved very consistent in the ISH series and qualified for Dublin Horse show. Competing in Vejer de la Frontera CSIYH1* at the start of the year, the combination had recorded three wins.

The bronze medal went to Kildare’s Mikey Pender with HHS Vancouver (ISH) when they galloped home with nothing to add in 35.75. HHS Vancouver (ISH), who is owned and bred by Marion Hughes, is a gelding is by Indoctro (Holst) out of La Juanita (ISH), by Don Juan De La Bouverie (SBS). This combination went into Lanaken with a series of good results, which included the win in the prestigious Millstreet Ruby Five-Year-Old Grand Prix final.

JUST OUT OF MEDALS

In the six-year-old final, Kilkenny international Ger O’Neill was just out of the medals this time around as he took fourth place with Cuffesgrange Cavadora (ISH), clear in 36.03. Bred by Clare Hughes, the mare is by Z Wellie 72 out of Cuffesgrange Cavalidam.

It was another extremely close class with little dividing the placings. Taking the gold medal was Jeroen de Winter and Mystic van ‘T Hoogeinde (BWP), clear in 33.01, ahead of Donald Whitaker and Chilli (DSP), clear in 33.95. The bronze medal was claimed by Thiago Ribas da Costa and Mano Negra van de Bucxtale (BWP), who left all the poles standing in 35.17.