Name: Alex Lyons

Age: 23

From: Delahassey Lodge, Naul, Co Dublin

Parents: Fiona and John Lyons

Base: Recently set up my own yard in Naul, Co Dublin

Top horses: Quater Z, an eight-year old Quidam de Revel x Chin Chin; Diacento, a seven-year-old Diamanté de Semilly x Cento; Gulion, seven-year-old VDL Boss x Corlando I; Ikopodo, a four-year old Luidam x Condos

Trainer: Tom Holden

Academy mentor: British international show jumper William Funnel from the Billy Stud. William is a fantastic mentor as he has built a brilliant business from the ground up based on Irish dam lines and produced them up into Nations Cup and Hickstead winners

Achievements: Competing on and producing young horses to 1.30m level and setting up my own yard

Goals for 2018: To produce and compete horses to the top level in our sport. As well as establish my business i-sportHorses internationally

Key things learned from the SJI young rider’s academy: How to run my business legitimately, how to market ourselves, as well as career guidance. Learning how to produce horses correctly and how to manage ourselves mentally and physically

What would help the industry in Ireland: I would like to see a substantial state investment in our sport horse industry to help facilities improve, riders like myself to improve and grow who will contributing back to the economy. With more investment young riders wouldn’t have to base themselves abroad and would base here in Ireland

Alex Lyons was in conversation with Emer Bermingham