INTERNATIONAL SHOW JUMPING:WOLVERHAMPTON-BASED course builder Bob Ellis has designed a classic five-star Nations Cup track for today's Meydan League showdown for the Aga Khan trophy.
Some 30,000 spectators are expected at the Aga Khan event, one of the great traditional showjumping events on the global circuit. Mr Ellis, the London Olympic course builder who is on his first visit to Dublin, is delighted with the turnout of top riders and world-class horses.
“The riders and horses are really of a high standard, and the Nations Cup will be extremely exciting. Riders can expect a strong course for a show of this calibre where a lot hangs on this competition for many teams. I know there will be a good few clear rounds, but horses must be on form and riders must be accurate in their riding.”
Director of showjumping at the international equestrian federation (FEI), John Roche, is in Dublin for the Nations Cup. “For the Aga Khan cup, I think Ireland, USA and France have fielded very strong teams,” he said. “It will be a close call between these for first place. Ireland’s squad is also strong and I look forward to tomorrow’s competition and seeing which four teams will be relegated to the FEI Nations Cup Promotional League.
“As it now stands, Poland will definitely be relegated as they have withdrawn from the last two Meydan FEI Nations Cup competitions.”
Mr Roche, a former Nations Cup rider for Ireland, added: “We cannot ignore Great Britain, considering their success last weekend in Hickstead. Sönke Sönksen, German team captain, has been through the stresses of more than 20 Nations Cups at the RDS. “We have a team . . . of good riders and five-star horses and we could do very well.”
Ludger Beerbaum’s prodigy Philipp Weishaupt, on his first Nations Cup visit to Dublin, said: “This show is amazing. There is so much tradition and the main arena is fantastic. I want to come back to Dublin again and I think we have good horses for Friday.”
The first showjumping class of Thursday was the Young Rider Speed Derby, which provided classic entertainment as riders performed over a range of rustic and landscaped fences.
Lesley Anne Lyons, with Longfordpass Gael owned by John Lyons, took the championship ahead of Trevor Reilly with Castleview Lux Z and Melanie Young on Bildworth Calvados.
European pony champion Bertram Allen retained his form to take the 148cm pony qualifier on Cassandra Van Het Roelhof while his sister Grace claimed the 138cm qualifier on Fountain Ranger.
Dublin-based Paul O’Shea, the quiet-spoken Grand Prix circuit rider who leaves to take up a new post soon in the US, excelled yet again to claim the Speed Derby.
With the consistent grey Daydream St Ghyvan Z owned by Paul Clarke and Michael Walsh, O’Shea galloped to victory with an unbeatable time of 86.05, one of only four clear rounds.
Beezie Madden and her Dutch-bred mare Prima, were again in the money, taking second with a fractionally slower time of 86.46.
Rich Fellers, the US rider who buys many Irish horses, returned to the RDS arenas with McGuinness by Cavalier Royale to secure third despite holding an earlier lead. Ireland’s Shane Breen and the chestnut gelding Dorada were fifth ahead of Swede Peder Frederickson and Maloubet de Pleville.