Last Thursday saw the second installment of the Treo Eile Christmas Pro-celebrity Show Jumping Classic at the Emerald Equestrian Centre in Enfield, Co Kildare.

Despite the freezing temperatures, turnout was high and spirits even higher amid the festive atmosphere.

There was a palpable excitement that perhaps the event could fast become an Irish version of the London International Horse Show – full of seasonal thrills, spills and Christmas fun for all the family.

Former racehorses

Treo Eile’s raison d’être is to showcase the possibilities for Ireland’s former racehorses. Many in this year’s competition ran on racetracks across the country for trainers including Jessica Harrington and Joseph O’Brien.

The format of the competition takes its inspiration from the Dublin Horse Show’s Aga Khan team contest.

Riders compete in teams of four for the Horse Racing Ireland Classic Perpetual Cup. It is a timed competition with a celebrity jockey captaining each team, two professional riders on a variety of former racehorses and the fourth team member a talented young pony rider.

All riders jump a track of 15 fences, with fastest completions winning the coveted trophy and a variety of gifts from class sponsor Connollys Redmills.

Industry champions

The competition attracts some of the industry’s brightest stars, which this year included Rachael Blackmore, Davy Russell and Patrick Mullins.

Professionals included international riders Patrick Whelan, Sarah Wardell and Gillian Beale King, all renowned for campaigning former racehorses successfully in other disciplines such as eventing or show jumping.

Before the competition kicked off there was the Moyglare Stud Parade of Champions. The crowds were delighted to see titans of racing such as Tiger Roll, Douvan, Al Boum Photo and Hurricane Fly shown in-hand looking resplendent.

There were welfare champions of the industry present too, including Ireland’s largest dedicated equine charity the Irish Horse Welfare Trust, and also Thoroughbred Assisted, who support the transition of former racehorses into equine assisted therapy.

Equestrian stars

Following the presentation of the winning trophy, many young people took the opportunity for a ‘selfie’ with the equestrian stars, all of whom could not have been more accommodating and generous with their time.

Hearts were warmed in particular watching champion trainer Henry de Bromhead cheer on his 13- year-old daughter Mia riding in Rachael Blackmore’s Honeys team. Mia tragically lost her twin brother Jack in a pony racing accident in September.

After a thrilling competition plus a few hairy moments, the glory went to the Jonbons under captain Aíne O’Connor, one of Ireland’s top amateur jockeys.

O’Connor rode Dubai Flyer who raced for Co Derry trainer Noel Kelly before spending the last three years with talented retrainer Susan Deeley Wylie.

The rest of the winning team comprised of Ireland’s leading event rider of 2022, Ian Cassells, Corinthian Challenger Rachel O’ Callaghan and ten-year-old Lucia Keane.