THERE is a mountain of statistical information now available on the Eventing Ireland website and, when looking at the overall figures for 2022 one name stands out – Patrick Whelan.

The Co Wexford rider topped the tables for the number of runs (114), wins (19), cross-country clears (104) and the most cross-country clears inside the time (61). Ian Cassells, who was second to Whelan in those four categories, finished ahead of his rival in show jumping clears, 59 to 54, but they shared the top spot on 34 when it came to the number of times they completed on their dressage scores.

Like Cassells, Whelan still has his two rides from Le Lion d’Angers last year, Altitu and Piltown OBOS. At the world breeding championships for young event horses they both contested the CCI3*-L for seven-year-olds which will be the target this October for Paul Donovan’s Dermish Chill.

That Chillout gelding, who started last season at EI100 level, won four national events and in five home international outings recorded a best-place finish of second in the CCI2*-S at Ballindenisk in July. Before he was gelded, Dermish Chill covered a very small number of mares and one of the resultant produce, Dermish Tommie, won the four-year-old class at the Western Region’s starter stakes qualifier at the Galway Equestrian Centre last Sunday (see page 119).

International debut

“I’m also looking forward to getting out with Denis Finch Hatton (who has competed at CCI4*-S level) and Ikoon Lan DHI (who won the CCI1*-Intro at Kilguilkey House in July on his international debut and has since twice competed at CCI3*-S level),” revealed Whelan. “I have some smart six-year-olds and plenty of other young horses coming on.”

When asked about Footfall, the grey gelding he first competed as a member of the Killinick Branch of the Irish Pony Club, Whelan replied: “I don’t know yet what I’m going to do with him. He’s 19 now and owes us nothing. If I feel he could be in with a chance at one of the internationals, I’d have to have a go with him. He’s in great form.

“He’s meant to be out minding three-year-olds but, the other day, he jumped out of the field, left the three-year-olds behind and I had to go and get him out of a neighbour’s garden!”

Whelan reckons he may have to go to Tyrella early in the season as he has so many horses to compete but his participation on a Saturday all depends on the progress of Fastnet Rovers who play in Division 3A of the Wexford Football League. “We’re into a quarter final now and I wouldn’t want to miss that!” said the 26-year-old. “I love soccer. I play as a striker though I haven’t scored too many goals of late.”