Rider profile: Darragh Ryan
Name: Darragh Ryan
Young Rider Academy participant
Age: 21
From: Thurles, Co Tipperary
Parents: Tomás Ryan and Fiona Hyland Ryan
Based with: Greg Broderick
Top horses: Lackamore Storm/Boleybawn Actor/MHS Carlos/ESI Starstruck/Ballypatrick Flamenco
Trainer: Greg Broderick
Academy mentor: Barry O’Connor. Barry is extremely knowledgeable about horses and is a very good business man which is vitally important in our sport to survive!
Major achievements:
•won Irish Breeders Classic 2016
•won 4YO Championship in RDS 2016
•won Young Rider Championship in RDS 2016
•won 5YO Championship in RDS 2017
•qualified eight horses for RDS 2017
Goals: To compete on an Irish Nations Cup team in the future/to win a medal at Lanaken
Key things learned from FEI Young Riders Academy: Making plans/good tips on banking and accounting/looking after your health
Based in Ireland or overseas in the future: Ireland, if possible
What would help the industry in Ireland: I think the industry in Ireland is improving and very good.
There’s some great shows and with Irish Sport TV broadcasting a lot of shows, it’s easy for people to look up horses.
More funding for these shows and facilities to keep on improving would only be a good thing and for increased prize money would be great for everyone!
Compiled by Emer Bermingham