Young riders ready for Germany training

By Frank Mulvihill

16 February 08 : Two young riders will set off to Germany next week to spend 10 days training with German master, Dietmar Gugler. David Power from Kilkenny City and Aisling Doherty from Donegal were both selected to travel to Frankfurt following their participation in the SJAI training programme for young riders in 2007. During their stay with the German trainer, the Irish pair will be instructed in flatwork and jumping and they may attend some shows.

Waterford/Tipperary Awards all round

Over 300 people turned up at the Park Hotel in Dungarvan recently for the annual Waterford/ Tipperary show jumping awards. The large group of young riders and pony riders who took their place on the stage for the awards is testament to the vibrancy of the sport in the Munster region.

Fenor rider Paddy O'Donnell was this year's recipient of the overall young rider award. The 21-year-old is due to take up a two-week training bursary in March with Ireland's Jessica Kurten at her base near Dusselldorf in Germany. The fortnight with the world's number three is a reward for O'Donnell who scored the highest points in the young rider classes at the Dublin Horse Show last summer. He is a former Golden Saddle winner and also finished 10th in a Grand Prix at this year's National Championships on Harristown Princess.

In the pony category, Michael Moloney took the top award. Moloney set the seal on a triumphant weekend for the Irish at the Pony International in Bois Le Rois, France at the back end of 2007 when he won the event's Pony Grand Prix on Shangan Eric. The 16-year-old from Butlerstown in Co Waterford gave a definitive display of horsemanship by delivering the only clear round of the competition on that occasion.

The young stars in this region have a lot to live up to. Waterford/Tipperary has always had its share of top performers but the head-to-head challenge of Francis Connors and Tholm Keane (the latter is from Waterford, although based in Kilkenny) in the Boswell Grand Prix League made it a special year for the region at senior level. Connors' success in this series saw him honoured with the overall senior rider award on Saturday night. It was a fitting occasion for the rider from Kill who won his eighth National League title last season. Keane was honoured with the Speed Champion award, while international awards were presented to Shane Breen and Anthony Condon. Nell Dalton received the judge award, while well-known owner Fran Mangan received just reward for his year in the amateur category.