FISU stands for Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (International University Sports Federation) and was founded in 1949.

FISU's main responsability is the supervision of both Summer and Winter Universiades as well as the World University Championships.

FISU is composed of a General Assembly which represents the members (138 National University Sports Federations). It is FISU's main governing body. It elects the Executive Committee for a period of four years, which takes all the necessary decisions for the smooth running of FISU. Ten permanent commissions advise the Executive Committee in their specialised areas and so to simplify its duties. FISU is funded through subscription, organising and entry fees, television incomes, and marketing activities.

jumpingaround.com had the pleasure of covering the Irish events connected with this world wide event and we would have to rate the event as the most fun of any event we have covered!

At Dublin Airport we met up with the team, under the care and guidance of Coach/Chef Niall Quirk as they were heading for Tokyo and we were heading for Australia - there was a moment when we wanted to see whether we could change our plans and head to Tokyo with them - but we needed to be in Australia for the Australian National Championships and so we went our seperate ways - thanks to Gerald Bloomer for sending us the following report - hopefully photos will follow!

The Irish team of Lee Murphy, Gerald Bloomer, Andrew Bourns and Kate Keenan (reserve rider), along with team trainer Niall Quirk, travelled to the W.U.E.C. in Tokyo this weekend (2nd to the 5th of December). 20 countries took part, including Germany,Netherlands,Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Russia, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Canada, The United States, Belgium, and Austria, providing a field of 60 riders and 20 reserves.

The competition involved both Dressage and Showjumping disciplines, with both team and individual world titles at stake. The competition works on a knock out basis with 3 riders riding one horse in each round and the best rider on each horse going forward to the next round. The Dressage Championship culminates in a 'ride-off' final. 2 riders qualify and each rides a prix st. georges test and prix st. georges Freestyle to music,on the same 2 horses. Showjumping culminates in a similar final with each of the 2 riders riding the 2 horses over a 1.35m track. The riders have only 5 minutes on each horse prior to each round, (showjumpers being only allowed 3 warm up jumps!).

The judges panel for the Dressage W.U.E.C., was headed by none other than Madame Mariette Withages, Chairperson of the F.E.I. Dressage judges and who was President of the Dressage ground Jury for the Athens Olympic Games. The F.E.I. was represented by Mr.John Vallance.

In the Dressage Semi final, Ireland's Gerald Bloomer knocked out Hollands Elise Lakeman to qualify for the Final Against Austria's Martin Hauptmann. Bloomer went on to become the first ever W.U.E.C. Irish World Dressage Champion Taking the Gold by a solid Margin of 55.5 marks.

In the Showjumping Semi-finals Lee Murphy knocked out the Japanise rider Shingo Hayashi by a time difference of 2.11 seconds. In a nail biting quarter final, Andrew Bourns made it a first ever all irish final by knocking out France's Fabien Nizard. Andrew had a clear round with Fabien having the last fence down. tTis assured ireland of gold and siver . All to be decided, was who would be draped in gold.

In the final both Bourns and Murphy were clear on the First horse with Bourns having a slight lead on time. The second horse proved more difficult however. Bourns being first to take the reins, had no option but to go for gold and ride for time to put the pressure on Lee but in doing so had 4 rails down. Lee keeping his cool went in with 3 fences in hand, and pulled out a winning round with just 2 fences down.

This left Ireland with a haul of eight medals.
Gerald Bloomer- Dressage individual gold, combined team bronze.
Lee Murphy- Showjumping individual gold, combined individual silver and combined team bronze.
Andrew Bourns-Showjumping individual Silver and combined team bronze.
Kate Keenan- combined team bronze.

Previous individual gold medalists include:
German dressage guru Michael Klimke, William Fox-Pitt, Frank Ostholt( german eventing team member, Athens 2004).