IRISH pony riders won three Nations Cups in 2018 and, having just missed out a team medal at the FEI European Championships in Bishop Burton, UK, Tipperary’s Max Wachman made sure Ireland didn’t come home empty handed when taking individual silver.
The first Nations Cup win came in Wierdan, where a magnificent performance from an all-girl team saw them claim the important competition. The Irish quartet of Orla Duffy (Atlanta), Katie Power (Ghost Rider) Lucy Shanahan (Caliber-De) and Ella Quigley (Clemens) had been in second place at the halfway stage on just two-time faults, one fault behind leaders Great Britain. Ireland added just one-time fault to their total in the second round to finish on three faults.
Irish riders came out on top again in Hagen, in what was a tight contest. Gary Marshall’s team were in second place at the halfway stage and overtook leaders France to take the winner’s trophy.
The team was Francis Derwin (Cul Ban Mistress), Max Wachman (Cuffesgrange Cavalidam (ISH)), Tom Wachman (Quaprice D’Astree) and Seamus Hughes Kennedy (Rock Dee Jay)
EUROPEAN silver
In August, 14-year-old Max Wachman claimed the European Championship silver medal in Bishop Burton aboard Coolmore Showjumping’s Cuffesgrange Cavalidam (ISH). The pair were just outside the medal places going into the fourth round of jumping on a four-fault score.
They produced two foot-perfect clear rounds in the individual medal decider to take silver on an impressive five round total of just four faults. Katie Power finished 10th for Ireland with Ghost Rider, while fellow member Francis Derwin finished 15th with Cul Ban Mistress.
Irish results continued later in the season as the pony team were crowned the World Champions at the FEI Youth Nations Cup World Finals at Opglabbeek in Belgium. The team of Ella Quigley (Clemens), Charlotte Houston (Toscane Davnir), Katie Power (Ghost Rider (ISH)) and Seamus Hughes-Kennedy (Rock Dee Jay) finished on a zero score along with the home team from Belgium.
Hughes-Kennedy went forward to the decider and came out on top against Belgium’s Gilles Nuytens to give Ireland the gold medal.
FEI JUMPING PONIES’ TROPHY
As in 2017, Irish talent was clear to see in the FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy classes at the five-star shows in Lyon, Herning and Stuttgart. Riding under the Portuguese flag but based in Kilkenny, Molly Hughes Bravo won the 1.35m Pony Grand Prix in Lyon with her mother Marion’s Carrickaduff Pet (ISH).
Adding to the family records was Molly’s cousin Seamus Hughes-Kennedy who piloted Rock Dee Jay into into third place. Further down the line were Max Wachman and Cuffesgrange Cavalidam, who slotted into sixth, just ahead of Charlotte Houston with Toscane Davnir in seventh.
Molly Hughes Bravo also claimed the Herning leg of the FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy, ahead of Houston and Toscane Davnir.
Wachman went on to win the penultimate led in Stuttgart aboard his European mount. The victory leaves him in second place on the table with 31 points, behind Molly Hughes Bravo. Katie Power is in third place with 28 points, ahead of Charlotte Houston with 27 points. The final takes place in Mechelen after Christmas.
MARSHALL’S HIGHLIGHTS
Pony team manager, Gary Marshall remembered a wonderful year. “It was a great year for pony riders from the start. Irish teams won three Nations Cup in what was a very competitive arena. These competitions are some of the toughest on the calendar and nations send their top teams to test them.
“It is also the most pressurised for riders as competition is intense.
“Opglabbeek was a fabulous win as it was so close, and the team held their nerve under a lot of pressure. I sometimes feel that it is better going in to the final behind, as you fight harder to catch up,” Marshall said.
“In Germany, the team faced a big technical track, but it didn’t faze them. At the half way stage, they were in second place and then the held their own to take the win.
“At the European Championships we were unlucky not to get a medal, having missed out by just one second for bronze.
“The team’s nerves got to them a bit in the first round, but they all fixed their small mistakes for the second round, which showed their professionalism. It was great to see the riders pull together to get so close. Its exciting times for pony show jumping as those on the team have more years at this level, so what they have learnt this year, they will build on for next year.
“Apart from the abundance of talent, what really stands out with all these riders is how they cope under pressure. These children are dealing with school and competing at the highest level. The training that is available to them is clearly bringing these riders to a new level. As a level three coach, I try to introduce some sports physiology, as keeping focus plays a huge part in getting the results, as the end results are so tight,” Marshall added.