IT was a weekend to remember for Irish underage show jumping at the FEI Youth Nations Cup in Hagen, Germany, last weekend when the junior, pony and Children on Horses teams all won their Nations Cup competition, while 13-year-old Lily Tunney won the CSIOP Grand Prix on Sunday.

James Kernan’s Junior team were first to get on the board on Friday when Eoin Brennan, Timmy Brennan, Tom Wachman and Coen Williams lined out, finishing on a two-round total of eight faults. In the first round, there were three clear rounds; these came from Eoin Brennan with Tim Brennan’s Eskola M, his brother Timmy riding Diadema Della Caccia, also owned by Tim Brennan, and from Wachman with Ronnoco Jump Ltd’s Cathalina S.

That left Ireland on zero faults, equal with Germany and The Netherlands at the half way stage. Poles began to fall in the second round and both Brennans finishing with four faults apiece, while Williams was eliminated in both rounds with Conthanja. The pressure was on Tom Wachman, who a week previously made his first senior five-star start, and he delivered a double clear to keep the team on eight faults. Germany finished second with 12 faults, ahead of The Netherlands.

Speaking after the win, Kernan said: “I was very confident coming to Hagen with such a talented group of riders. The first round looked easy but four fences went up in the second round, this put huge pressure on all the teams but our very experienced riders held their nerve to deliver.

“Special mention must go to Tom Wachman for jumping a double clear in both rounds to secure today’s victory. I would like to thank the parents and all support staff who make all this possible. We look forward now to the FEI European Champions in Gorla Minore, Italy, next month.”

Pony team

Gary Marshall’s pony team then delivered a perfect score of zero in the Pony Nations Cup on Saturday. Pathfinder Kian Dore and Sparkling Lackaghmore Joey produced a brilliant double clear. Senan and Paddy Reape were both on the team; Senan, riding Nora, had a fence down in the first round before going clear in the second, while Paddy produced a double clear with Fernando.

The reigning European champion James Derwin was clear as the anchor in the first round with Rincoola Babog and was not required to jump the second time as the result of zero couldn’t be improved.

Sweden finished second on eight faults. The Netherlands also finished on eight but in a slower time while host nation Germany were last of the four teams on 20 faults.

Three from three

James Kernan’s Children on Horses team made it three from three victories for Ireland at the venue on Saturday afternoon.

The team of Lily Tunny riding Caravago, Ruby Lily Gaines riding Castle Lux Clover, Alice Moloney riding Cosima and Cian McMunn riding Limited Edition finished on a team score of zero ahead of The Netherlands who finished second on five faults and Germany in third.

Double clears from Tunny and McMunn combined with four faults in the opening round for Gaines and four faults in the second round for Moloney left Ireland unbeatable.

Tunney Grand Prix win

Thirteen-year-old Lily Tunney raced to a superb victory in Sunday’s Pony Grand Prix to secure her first international victory. She guided her father Gabriel’s 13-year-old gelding Fireman to the fastest of three clears in 38.17 seconds, just edging out teammate Kian Dore with Sparkling Lackaghmore Joey (0/0 38.43).

Following his daughter’s victory, Gabriel commented: “It was the weekend of dreams on the toughest stage in Europe. She was placed in a Grand Prix at Sentower earlier in the year but that was her first international Grand Prix.

“She is only 13 and likes to pull it out of the bag on the big stage. It was a super weekend.”