September 11th 1999

Macken to ride Cruising

By Michael Slavin

In one of the most dramatic and surprising moves in the history of Irish show jumping, Trevor Coyle's brilliant six-year partnership with Mary McCann's stallion Cruising suddenly ended over the weekend.

Just as quickly an equally promising and exciting union has been created with Eddie Macken, who will now ride the horse..

Following Cruising's abrupt withdrawal from the European Championships at Hickstead last week speculation grew about the stallion's future.

Negotiations over the next few days resulted in Macken being invited to Hartwell Stud where on Friday last he tried the horse. Having already spoken to Trevor about the move, Eddie declared himself ``delighted'' with Cruising and happy to take up the ride.

His first major outing with the stallion will not be for some weeks yet when the indoor European circuit gets under way.

Last Sunday Trevor Coyle, whose six seasons with Cruising were among the most triumphant in Irish showjumping history and included up to 10 major Grand Prix or World Cup wins, was again showing excellent form in his new post as Paul Schockemohle's top rider.

At the Moscow World Cup Show he won the Grand Prix with Schockemohle's Figero's Boy. Contacted at the show he declined to comment on his partnership with Cruising but he did say that the effort to combine the horse's stallion duties with international jumping was a very difficult one.

It can only be hoped that Eddie Macken can overcome the difficulties involved and thus cement a partnership that could bring further deserved glory to this great horse and to Ireland.