Legendary Irish rider Captain Con Power dies aged 71
The Irish equestrian community has today (Sunday November 3rd 2024) lost one of it’s greatest ever riders, with the death of Captain Con Power at the age of 71.
Widely regarded as one of the most gifted horsemen of his generation, Captain Con Power’s first selection on an Aga Khan team at the Dublin Horse show, was in 1976 when he rode the Irish mare Mullacrew who was later the dam of Cruising (ISH) [TIH]. Cruising was ridden to worldwide success by Trevor Coyle, and went on to become one the most influential Irish sires of all time.
THREE-IN-A-ROW
Captain Con Power was a member of the famous Aga Khan three-in-a-row winning team from 1977 to 1979 along with James Kernan, Eddie Macken and the late Paul Darragh, with Con being the only member of that team to ride three different Irish-bred horses – Coolronan (1977), Castlepark (1978) and Rockbarton (1979). Con was leading rider at the RDS in 1976 and 1979 and was also named leading rider at North American shows in New York, Washington and Toronto in 1978 and at Aachen (GER) in 1979.
In 1979 Con won the puissance competition at Aachen and just days later was part of the Irish team that won the Aachen Nations Cup along with Capt John Roche, Eddie Macken and Paul Darragh. Also in 1979, Con Power and Rockbarton would win the puissance at the Dublin Horse Show and just two days later were part of the Irish team to win the Aga Khan outright following their three-in-a-row success.
Capt Con Power retired from the Irish Army Equitation school in 1979 and enjoyed further success as a civilian rider, including the title of Irish showjumper of the year from 1983 to 1986. Con’s riding career unfortunately came to an end in 1988 when he suffered a freak accident that threatened his life. While attending a horse trials where he was teaching a student, Con was struck in the head by a trailing stirrup iron from a loose horse and he would spend six weeks in hospital following the accident.
The Power family are synonymous with Irish equestrian sport. Originally from Co Wexford, they would later make their home in Co Meath. A picture of Con’s father Patsy Power winning at Enniscorthy show in 1926 is proudly displayed at the family home and Patsy was also the breeder of 1947 Grand National winner Caughoo. Con originally started his career as a jockey but moved into Eventing and Show Jumping in his later teenage years after he grew too tall for racing. Con’s son Robbie (Puppy) Power continued the Power family racing tradition and was one of Ireland’s greatest National Hunt jockeys, with the Aintree Grand National (Silver Birch) and Cheltenham Gold Cup with Sizing John among his many wins before his retirement in 2022.
Con’s daughter Elizabeth Power has enjoyed huge success in International Eventing and Show Jumping, winning at the Dublin Horse Show in 2019 while she has also recorded many notable victories on the Eventing circuit, while Con’s wife Margaret also evented and competed at Badminton Horse Trials.
Con would go on to be a superb coach, passing on his skills and expertise to the next generation, not only in his own family but to many riders in Ireland including the hugely successful Allen brothers, Bertram and Harry.
Irish Horse Board Chairman Tiernan Gill, paid tribute to Captain Con Power and said:
“Captain Con Power really was one of Ireland’s true horsemen, with sporting achievements in so many different aspects of the industry, coaching, racing, eventing and showjumping. To be part of the famous three-in-a-row Aga Khan winning team on three different Irish-bred horses, demonstrates the phenomenal talent that he had with different types of horses. Winning a puissance competition before riding on a winning nations cup team at the same show, on the same horse, is a something that will probably never be repeated. Our deepest condolences to the Power family and all of Con’s many friends around Ireland and internationally. He will be sadly missed by all and his legacy will live on.”
May he rest in peace. Funeral arrangements to follow.