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For a nation the size of Ireland to have the most riders in the world’s 100 list seems an impossible dream.
Yet that is the case in the most recent Longines World Show Jumping Rankings. Ireland is currently tied with the US in the number one slot.
Eleven Irish riders are in the top 100. Cian O’Connor, Bertram Allen, Denis Lynch and Shane Sweetnam are top of the list, filling places in the mid-20s. Daniel Coyle is up to number 32 and Shane Breen remains among the top 50 at 43. Darragh Kenny, Conor Swail, Mark McAuley, Cameron Hanley and Richie Moloney complete the list.
Foreign-based
Now, while we can rejoice in this achievement, we still have to regret that not one of the 11 are based on Irish soil and their achievements mostly go unnoticed by our media.
This compares to the 80s and 90s when the likes Paul Darragh, Eddie Macken, James Kernan, Trevor Coyle, Gerry Mullins, Robert Splaine and John Ledingham were all based in Ireland and competed regularly on the Irish circuit, with their results being widely reported on.
So what has changed?
Two factors have brought this new situation about. Firstly, the lucrative rewards in foreign stables and secondly the ever escalating value of show jumping horses.
As former Irish chef d’equipe Robert Splaine recently pointed out; every weekend there are high prize money shows in Europe and the Americas.
It is just a fact of life that in order to avail of this bonanza, riders have to remain near the action and at the same time have horses available to them capable of competing at the very highest level.
For the most part our riders do not have the financial backing in Ireland to allow them to acquire such mounts.
Hence they have to attach themselves to owner-rich yards that can place such mighty horse power at their disposal.
Credit
It is to their credit that our Irish riders have such extraordinary talent that rich owners are willing to put their very expensive horses in Irish hands.
It is the old story of the Irish diaspora, whereby our exiles bring their talents with them and make successful lives for themselves and their families abroad.
However one would like to see some of their success reflected on the home circuit. After all, they honed their talents on that very circuit.
How this circle can be squared is a question to which I do not have the answer, but one should be found.
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