IRISH university student riders won Team Show Jumping Gold at the recent AIEC-SRNC Show Jumping and Dressage World Finals in Bilzen, Belgium, fighting it out against teams from Germany, Belgium, Britain, The Netherlands and Sweden.

Founded in Saumur, France in 1984, the purpose of AIEC is to support, develop and coordinate international university equestrian sports. Due to the top performances of the Irish team during previous Student Riding Nations Cups (SRNC), Ireland was among the top six best countries participating in 2022 and therefore qualified for the Gold League Final, held over the new year.

The Irish team, sponsored by Tredstep Ireland, composed of veterans Alannah Kelly of UCD, Michelle O’Driscoll of UCC and Peter Dillon of UCD.

The Irish riders started well at the Belgian World Finals, performing strongly in the first round of dressage with O’Driscoll qualifying for the second round and finishing an outstanding fifth place overall. The Netherlands went on to win Team Gold in Dressage.

President’s Cup winners

Stiff competition followed over a very tough show jumping track but the Irish team rose to the occasion as O’Driscoll, Kelly and Dillon finished third, fourth and sixth respectively in the individual show jumping competition, with the show jumping style prize being awarded to Alannah Kelly.

However, more was to come when the Irish team went on to win the Team Show jumping final to take first place on the podium and bring home the AIEC President’s Cup as the overall winners to their delight, under the guidance of chef d’equipe Jeremy Eviston.

In September 2022, the strong dressage performance of all-female squad of Alannah Doherty (UCD), Alannah Kelly (UCD), Jessica McConnell (QUB), Michelle O’Driscoll (UCC) and India Rogers (TCD) at the AIEC International Student Riders Nations Cup Series at The Netherlands secured Ireland’s place in the World Finals.

Irish Student Riders Nations Cup winners - Peter Dillon (UCD), Michelle O'Driscoll (UCC) and Alannah Kelly (UCD) at the Show Jumping and Dressage World Finals in Belgium \ Freddie Pritchard