Name: Seamus Hughes Kennedy

Date of birth: August 21st 2002

Parents: Clare Hughes and Melvyn Kennedy

Based: Co Kilkenny

Top five horses: Keatingstown Hunky Dory, Louis Dor, Cornet De Fluer, Rock DJ, Tommy Dunne

Trainers: Jim O’Neil, Dennis Flannelly and Marion Hughes

Who I have looked up to as a mentor and why: Marion Hughes because she has brought up all her own horses and is a great dealer. Bertram Allen because he made such a seamless transition from ponies to horses.

Major achievements to date: Winning the FEI Pony Jumping Trophy in Mechelen, December 2017; winning the RDS six and seven-year-old finaal in 2016 and 2017. Getting selected for the Europeans Pony Championship in 2017 and finishing seventh individually; winning the Star Finder Young Pony Final 2017.

Goals for 2018: To get back to the Europeans this year in ponies or juniors and/or if not to qualify for the RDS

Key things learned from last year’s season: Don’t get time faults so you need to ride the lines. Stay on it – ‘Jim’s favourite saying’.

When older would you like to based in Ireland or overseas and why? I really like to bring up young horses and no better place than Ireland to do that. However there is more shows in central Europe so it is a tough question. What I do know is that the trip over and back from Ireland to France is a tough one on the horses.

What would help the industry in Ireland: Upgrade current venues with good surfaces and European-style course building.