IT was a dream Nations Cup debut for both Harry Allen and Max Wachman as they helped the Irish show jumping team to win the three-star Nations Cup in Drammen for the third year in-a-row.
Chef d’equipe Michael Blake selected the youngsters alongside the experienced duo of Captain Geoff Curran and Shane Carey, who is a former Army caption now based in Denmark.
Their fourth win at the venue in five years, Ireland topped the line-up of 10 teams on a two-round total of four faults, ahead of France, Belgium and Australia in second place on eight faults. The Danish team, which included Shane Carey’s wife, Linnea Ericsson-Carey, were next best in fifth on a total of 12.
Ireland got off to a great start with three clears to finish the first round on zero faults, drawn with six other teams. Twenty-year-old Allen, who won a team silver medal at the recent FEI European Championships for young riders, guided Ballywalter Bloodstock’s 10-year-old stallion Guinness (Nabab de Reve x Katell) to a clear round to get the team off to a perfect start.
Captain Geoff Curran was next to go with the Minister For Defence’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Glengarra Wood (Capitalist x Cavalier Clover Lad), who was the 2020 Irish National champion. The Myles Somers-bred gelding also produced a foot-perfect round.
Max Wachman, aged 17, and just two years after winning double gold at the European Championships for Ponies, was making his senior team debut with Coolmore Showjumping’s 12-year-old mare Dorette (Dollar du Murier x Fighting Alpha 3). The pair picked up eight faults in the first round.
The hugely experienced Shane Carey took up the anchor man role with the 10-year-old stallion Skorphults Baloutendro (Contendros 2 x Balou du Rouet), owned by Skorphults Hästar Ab and put Ireland into a solid position with another clear round.
Second round
Allen showed he is a star for the future when he jumped a second clear round with Guinness, one of just seven double clears in the competition. Curran had one down with Glengarra Wood, before Wachman bounced back with a perfect clear round, meaning Ireland would finish with a score no worse than four faults.
With France, Australia and Belgium all finishing on eight, the Irish team couldn’t be beaten and Carey decided not to jump a second time.
France were represented by Bernard Briand Chevalier, Juliette Faligot, Cyril Bouvard and Guillaume Foutrier. The Australian team was made up of Amy Graham, Hilary Scott and former Ireland-based rider Jake Hunter who worked for Vinnie Duffy in Mayo before moving to Waldman Horses in Holland. Hunter was double clear aboard his own and Dani G. Waldman’s Jativia.
Also joint-second was the Belgian team of Celine Schoonbroodt- De Azevedo, Emilia Housen, Jordy van Massenhove and Karel Cox.
Michael Blake was delighted with the team win, the fourth in five years at the venue. Of the two young riders – Harry and Max – making their debut, he said: “It augers well for the future, it gives them great encouragement and other young riders who are looking on too, to know they have a chance.
“This is a different step up from underage – you are in big school now. I am really happy with how they adapted and took the pressure. For Harry to be first to go for the team in his first Nations Cup, well you couldn’t but praise him for that. Max knew a clear was necessary in the second round and he delivered. Shane and Geoff have plenty of experience.”
Speaking about the upcoming European Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany, which begin next week, Blake said: “We decided to go with a squad that doesn’t have championships experience, it is a first for them all – Mark [McAuley] was reserve in 2017 and Michael [Duffy] was reserve for WEG in 2018 but it is the first time they will canter into the arena. We want to do the very best we can and we also to broaden that base and they can’t step up to it without a chance. Championship is another level again and it is up to the riders to seize the opportunity.”
The team for the Europeans is Mark McAuley (Jasco VD Bisschop), Michael Duffy (Zilton SL Z), Saniel Coyle (Legacy), Eoin McMahon (Chacon 2) and the reserve rider is Tokyo Olympian Bertram Allen (Harley VD Bisschop).
Win for Curran
Captain Geoff Curran won the three-star 1.35m class at the venue on Thursday. He rode the Minister For Defence’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse HHS Clinstown (OBOS Quality x Cavalier Royale), bred by the late Ita Brennan, to victory with the fastest of 10 double clear rounds in 37.88 seconds.
The pair were seventh in Saturday’s 1.45m Table C Speed and Handiness class with four faults.
Allen finished fourth in Thursday’s 1.45m two-phase class with the nine-year-old mare Harmonie L, double clear in 36.34 seconds. Victory went to Norway’s Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen with Emmylou (0/0 34.17).