With the Outdoor league now finished competition moves indoors for the winter where again there will be a National League running through to the end of the year and this will, no doubt, also be strongly contested by the many super riders and horses in Ireland.

With Ireland managing to avoid relegation from the Samsung Super League competition they are also this year making a concerted bid to go to the World Cup Final which will be held in April 2006 in Malaysia and promises to be a huge affair!

Hopefully the dramas of 2005 will be put behind the Irish and they will get on with the business of showjumping at top level but sadly there are clouds still hanging over them as Jessica Kurten reaches number 6 in the world rankings and is denied invitation to the 2005 World Cup classes - Jessica will automatically be given entry in 2006 due her world ranking as number 6 but she will not be seen in the 2005 rounds of this series due to selectors decision making which saw her left off the list.

With the camera focussed on them, the combination of Cian O'Connor and Denis Flannelly's Gain Dot Com - pictured left - did not make it through to the jump off today.

This gelding, formerly ridden by Australian Scottie Barclay in 2004 has had good form throughout the season, if lacking a little consistency.
Ashbourne - pictured right - , previously ridden this season and last by Cian's stable jockey, Dan Walsh is another young horse who has been coming along nicely this season although he did not jump through to the final round today.
Australian Scottie Barclay- pictured left on Michelle Hanlon's mare Guiness - has moved on from Harmony Cottage and is now riding for Charlie Grendon of Cellbridge and will no longer be seen in the Celtic Winners Australia cloths as he will be putting together a team of horses for Charlie and 16 year old Katie Anne Grendon- jumpingaround.com wishes them the best of luck in the coming season.
Welsh rider, Delyth Collins must surely win the award for one of the hardest working riders on the circuit - and she always has a ready smile!
Del - pictured above right with Creevagh Duca Diamonds - is known by some riders, we were told recently, as Delicious Del, rides for Ronnie Hollinger of Creevagh House Stud and she produces youngsters for Ronnie through to Grand Prix level and has been doing so very successfully for some seven years now - obviously a partnership which works well for both of them!
Another of the unlucky ones in the jump off was Brendan Ryan and Patrick Flynn's Sarahs Sparkey E - pictured left - who jumped a cracking jump off until the final fence fell leaving them with just the four faults and a time of 33.98secs. This is a horse which has impressed us throughout the season and is to one to watch for in 2006!

The final placings saw Cian O'Connor and Irish Independent Echo Beach take first place.

Second place went to Richie Moloney and Early Days.
Third place went to Francis Connors and Auto Cruz
Fourth place went to Captain Shane Carey and African Drum
Fifth place went to Olive Clarje and Spitfield
Sixth place went to Tholm Keane and Warrenstown You 2

Iverk Show looks after their ring crew making sure they have comfortable seating with the best views - pictured above right - and they did a super job in what were often trying conditions when the heavens decided to open midway through round one of the Grand prix class.

This was jumpingaround.com's first visit to Iverk Show and it definitely won't be the last - the show has plenty for everyone with excellent jumping and a carnival atmosphere - definitely one to put on your calendar for 2006!
Page One - Page Two

This is Page Three

Back to News Index