Irish horses and riders have performed brilliantly so far this week at the 2023 FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses at Lanaken in Belgium, with a host of Irish combinations qualifying for Sunday’s world finals.
A massive 235 horses and riders from around the globe started the two qualifiers for 5-year-old horses on Thursday and Friday with a total of 12 double clear rounds from Irish horses and riders.
The 6-year-old qualifiers were just as competitive, with 256 combinations starting the week. Of the top 40 through to the final, Ireland has six representatives who will be bidding for championship glory.
The two qualifiers for 7-year-old horses saw 203 combinations battle for the 40 places on offer and Ireland will have seven representatives in the final on Sunday.
The full list of Irish horses and riders who have qualified for Sunday’s 2023 FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horse Finals in Lanaken (BEL) are as follows:
5-year-old horses
Boleybawn Alvaro (ISH) 2018 stallion by Dominator 2000 Z out of Arina (KWPN), by Crown Z. Bred by Ronan Rothwell. Owned by GBBS International Ltd & Ronan Rothwell. Rider: Niamh McEvoy
Ballyshan B F Super Hero (ISH) 2018 gelding by Celtic Hero B Z (Zang) out of Ballyshan Luximportant (ISH) by Lux Z (Hann). Bred by Gary Doherty, Co. Donegal. Owner: Martin Egan. Rider: Ger O’Neill (IRL)
Gone Girl VB (ISH) 2018 mare by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof (BWP) out of Bellissimo (ISH) by Cobra (Holst). Breeder: Eleanor Byrne. Owner: LMG Enterprises. Rider: Vincent Byrne (IRL)
HHS Ocala (ISH) 2018 geldingBy Urano De Cartigny (SF) out of Hera Van’t Roosakker (BWP), by Wandor Van De Mispelaere (BWP). Bred & Owned by Bravo Hughes LTD. Rider: Michael Pender
OKE Dixieland Rock (ISH) 2018 mare by Elvis Ter Putte (BWP) out of Arona (KWPN) by Cobra (Holst). Bred and owned by Martina McCrory. Rider: Brendan Murphy (IRL)
Luisa (ISH) 2018 mare by Luidam (KWPN) out of Lexi Lady (ISH) by Flexible (ISH). Owner Noel Cawley. Breeder Noel Cawley. Rider Leah Stack
Madgeslane Luidam (ISH) 2018 stallion by Luidam (KWPN) out Madges Lane Karol (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD). Bred, owned and ridden by Michael Pender
SVS Symphony (ISH) 2018 mare by Comme Il Faut 5 (WESTF) out of SVS Attraction (ISH), by Air Jordan (KWPN). Bred and owned by Brian Hutchinson. Rider: Jason Foley.
Additional Irish riders qualified
Jason Foley with Castlefield Dancer (OS) Presley Boy / Cento. Owned by Castlefield Breeding Farm. Bred by GMBH
Emma O’Dwyer with BP Millionaire (HOLST) Million Dollar / Centurion. Owner: Equine Evolve, Fergus Lawlor / Breeder: Kloes Volker
Leah Stack with Carlsberg Z ( ZANG) Comme Il Faut / Mylord Carthago. Owner: Gary Hazelwood, Leslie Hazelwood, Triple T Farms / Breeder: Blevi Jorn
Niamh McEvoy with Stakkato Girl (AES) Stakkato Boy RM / For Edition. Owner: GBBS International Ltd / Breeder: A. & W. Wolters & H.C.C.M. Onering
6-year-old horses
BP Tiny Dancer (ISH) 2017 mare by Plot Blue (KWPN) out of Uptown Girl (SPH) by Concorde (KWPN). Bred and owned by GBBS International Ltd. Rider: Niamh McEvoy (IRL)
HHS Ice Flo (ISH) 2017 mare by Iceman De Muze (BWP), out of HHS Go with the Flo (ISH), by Cyrano (HOLST). Bred by Kevin Meagher. Owned by Bravo Hughes LTD. Rider Michael Pender
GCS Rosie (ISH) 2017 mare by Luidam (KWPN) out of GCS Paris (ISH) by L’arc De Triomphe (OLD). Bred by Olivia Brennan. Owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender
Laurina (ISH) 2017mare by Stakkato Gold (Hann) out of Rincarina (ISH)[TIH] by Cruising (ISH)[TIH. Bred and owned by Dr. Noel Cawley, Co. Kildare, ridden by Leah Stack.
BP Goodfellas (ISH) 2017 gelding by Stakkato Gold (Hann) out of Goodwins Loyalty (ISH), by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD). Bred and owned by GBBS International Ltd. Rider: Niamh McEvoy (IRL).
Additional Irish riders qualified
Darragh Ryan with As You Want Z (ZANG) / Atomic d’Ick / Calvaro F.C. . Owned by Mary Elle de Ruschi. Bred by Mme Dr.V. isabelle Gaudry
7-year-old horses
Curra Ferro (ISH) 2016 gelding by S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe (KWPN) out of Creevagh Jane (ID), by Mount Diamond Flag (IDC1). Breeder: Ronnie Hollinger, Co. Monaghan. Owner: Ciara Kearney and Seamus Hughes-Kennedy. Rider: Seamus Hughes-Kennedy (IRL)
HHS Cyprus (ISH) 2016 gelding by Cornet Obolensky (BWP) out of HHS Acorado (ISH) by Acorado (Holst). Bred by Marion Hughes. Owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd. Riden by Mikey Pender (IRL)
LVS Goldrush H (ISH) 2016 gelding by Stakkato Gold (Hann) out of Arcadia LVS Z (Zang) by Arko III (OLD). Bred by Heritage Bloodstock Ltd. Owned by Dermot Walsh. Rider: Ethen Ahearne (IRL)
HHS Orchidee (ISH) 2016 mareby Le Roi (Zfdp) out of HHS Tiffany (ISH) by Luidam (KWPN). Bred by Miguel Bravo, owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd. Ridden by Molly Hughes Bravo.
Additional Irish riders qualified.
Jason Foley with Mister Querly Z (ZANG) Mosito v. Hellehof / For Pleasure Owned by Castlefield Breeding Farm. Breeder: CDM GMBH
Jessica Burke with Good Star Du Bary (ZANG) Rock’N Roll Semilly / Oberon du Moulin. Owned by Erica Nicholas. Bred by Marina Storgat
Harry Allen with Kumina Della Caccia (MIPAAF) Kannan / Toulon. Owned by Ballywalter Stables. Bred by Coop.Soc.Agr. La Caccia – Onlus