It is utterly amazing, and almost miraculous, that a country of our size can have 10 of our show jumpers ranked in the latest Longines World Show Jumping Rankings top 100.
Yet the magnitude of this current achievement does not seem to filter down into general Irish consciousness. And this lack needs to be addressed.
The magnitude of this achievement can be judged by comparing our numbers in the top 100 with those registered by our highly funded and promoted competitors. The USA tops the list with 12 – just two more than us. Germany and France each have 11. Belgium is tied with Ireland on 10. Switzerland has seven, while Britain and the Netherlands have six each.
And so it goes, we are right at the top of the pile in terms of international success, this is a record registered by no other sport here at the top level of international performance. In golf, for example, we have but two in the top 100.
Back in the ’70s, a similar burst of international show jumping success by people like Eddie Macken, Paul Darragh, James Kernan and Con Power led to a huge increase in voluntary effort and entrepreneurship. For example, the great Dublin Indoor International grew out of that enthusiasm. Millstreet and Cavan came on stream and as a direct consequence of the enthusiasm that was about at the time, the RDS was able to host the 1982 World Championship.
THEN AND NOW
However, there are two great differences between then and now. Firstly, many of our rider’s greatest wins were featured on primetime television, radio and mainstream print media. Hence, they got into public conversation. On top of that, the heroes and horses of those great moments were to be seen perhaps just a few days later, at shows like Kill, Ballivor, Cork or Holycross.
The crux of the matter right now is the absence of our stars from the national scene.
Top 100
Our list of 10 in the top 100 goes like this:
• Cian O’Connor (19) (left)• Bertram Allen (20)• Denis Lynch (27)• Shane Sweetnam (35)• Danlel Coyle (41)• Darragh Kenny (43)• Conor Swail (54)• Shane Breen (58)• Billy Twomey (76) • Richie Moloney (81)Out of this group, only Cian O’Connor has a permanent Irish base. The nine remaining riders are part of our incredibly talented and ingenious diaspora, with bases in Canada, USA, Germany and Britain.
Their achievements will indeed be noted here in The Irish Horse or in The Irish Field.
But if there is to be a more fruitful connect in the general media and in the consciousness of the public, there is work to be done.
WORK TO BE DONE
For one thing, more has to be made of the brief visits home of these stars. Clinics for our aspiring riders by both the stars and our new and world-famous Chef d’Equipe could bear much fruit. Like in the world of traditional music, we could say “bring it all back home”.
These riders now have vast and invaluable experience of the changing face of modern international show jumping and breeding.
The challenge is to find ways for the elite to stay in touch with the grass roots and the local shows, which, in many ways, are springboards and nurseries for our future rider and horse stars. CL
It is utterly amazing, and almost miraculous, that a country of our size can have 10 of our show jumpers ranked in the latest Longines World Show Jumping Rankings top 100.
Yet the magnitude of this current achievement does not seem to filter down into general Irish consciousness. And this lack needs to be addressed.
The magnitude of this achievement can be judged by comparing our numbers in the top 100 with those registered by our highly funded and promoted competitors. The USA tops the list with 12 – just two more than us. Germany and France each have 11. Belgium is tied with Ireland on 10. Switzerland has seven, while Britain and the Netherlands have six each.
And so it goes, we are right at the top of the pile in terms of international success, this is a record registered by no other sport here at the top level of international performance. In golf, for example, we have but two in the top 100.
Back in the ’70s, a similar burst of international show jumping success by people like Eddie Macken, Paul Darragh, James Kernan and Con Power led to a huge increase in voluntary effort and entrepreneurship. For example, the great Dublin Indoor International grew out of that enthusiasm. Millstreet and Cavan came on stream and as a direct consequence of the enthusiasm that was about at the time, the RDS was able to host the 1982 World Championship.
THEN AND NOW
However, there are two great differences between then and now. Firstly, many of our rider’s greatest wins were featured on primetime television, radio and mainstream print media. Hence, they got into public conversation. On top of that, the heroes and horses of those great moments were to be seen perhaps just a few days later, at shows like Kill, Ballivor, Cork or Holycross.
The crux of the matter right now is the absence of our stars from the national scene.
Top 100
Our list of 10 in the top 100 goes like this:
• Cian O’Connor (19) (left)• Bertram Allen (20)• Denis Lynch (27)• Shane Sweetnam (35)• Danlel Coyle (41)• Darragh Kenny (43)• Conor Swail (54)• Shane Breen (58)• Billy Twomey (76) • Richie Moloney (81)Out of this group, only Cian O’Connor has a permanent Irish base. The nine remaining riders are part of our incredibly talented and ingenious diaspora, with bases in Canada, USA, Germany and Britain.
Their achievements will indeed be noted here in The Irish Horse or in The Irish Field.
But if there is to be a more fruitful connect in the general media and in the consciousness of the public, there is work to be done.
WORK TO BE DONE
For one thing, more has to be made of the brief visits home of these stars. Clinics for our aspiring riders by both the stars and our new and world-famous Chef d’Equipe could bear much fruit. Like in the world of traditional music, we could say “bring it all back home”.
These riders now have vast and invaluable experience of the changing face of modern international show jumping and breeding.
The challenge is to find ways for the elite to stay in touch with the grass roots and the local shows, which, in many ways, are springboards and nurseries for our future rider and horse stars. CL
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: