HAGEN played host to the ‘Future Champions’ Youth Nations Cup. A strong contingent of 36 combinations represented Ireland in show jumping, with teams for ponies, children on horses, juniors and young riders travelling under the watchful eyes of team chefs d’equipe, Gary Marshall and James Kernan.

Eoin Brennan took the win in the opening ponies’ CSIOP 1.25m class on Thursday with GCS Daisy Lux, following up on some great results in the last couple of months, both at home and abroad.

The opening CSIOJ class saw more strong performances from the Irish with Frances Derwin Jnr riding Cicomein VDL coming second and Marta Hughes-Bravo with HHS Figero just a fraction of a second behind in third.

Friday saw the CSIOJ Individual competition, where Timmy Brennan made sure that little brother Eoin wasn’t going to take all the prizes, claiming second place with the exciting seven-year-old Diadema Della Caccia.

The Pony and Children on Horses Nations Cup competitions were the feature classes last Saturday. Gary Marshall’s pony team followed up their dominant performance in Zuidwolde with another win, albeit with a complete change of personnel. The team of Eoin Brennan with Glor Tire Cruise, James Brennan with the home-bred MHS Glow, Katie McEntee with Carrickduff Pet and Paddy Reape with Valma de Fougnard finished on a score of four faults ahead of Germany and Sweden who tied on 12. Eoin Brennan, Ireland’s pathfinder, produced one of only four double clears in the competition.

Chef d’equipe Gary Marshall said: “I am delighted with our win today and all our riders put in a solid performance. That’s us leading on points for the final as we have won the three big ones. I have a very strong pool of riders which shows that our National system and our High-Performance Programme are working. I am excited for the future of pony show jumping.”

James Kernan’s Children on Horses team consisted of Annie Boland on The Hurricane, Alannah Fagan with Bella M, Conrad Sweeney with Ardragh Cordubh and Jamie Clarke with Coumroe Special. They finished a creditable fourth on a total of 12 faults behind Germany (0), Sweden (5) and France (6). Jamie Clarke and Coumroe Special produced one of just seven double clears in his role as anchor leg.

Saturday also hosted the Grand Prix Juniors, where Rhys Williams picked up a podium place, finishing third with Cowboy Balou.

The final day featured the Grand Prix classes for Ponies and Young Riders. Ireland filled three of the top six in the Pony Grand Prix. The highest placed was Paddy Reape with Valma de Fougnard who jumped double clear to finish second. Katie Nallon and Little Smithie were fourth, also jumping double clear, with Eoin Brennan and GCS Daisy Lux picking up sixth as the fastest four-faulter.

The final competition was the Young Riders Grand Prix won by Seamus Hughes Kennedy with one of only two double clears from 34 starters when partnering Cuffesgrange Cavadora to top spot. The 10-year-old daughter of Cuffesgrange Cavalidam, bred by Eamonn Sheehan, has provided the Hughes family with many exciting days out and is sure to continue to do so.