Ireland is divided into four regions with showjumping also divided into these regions and together with the Show Jumping Association of Ireland run many fantastic training initiatives.
The Leinster Region have run 21 days of training from February through to March this year with 196 training places available. The first round of training sessions were held at various locations throughout the Leinster Region with top level tutors coaching groups of four at a time. Speaking with Sharon Fitzpatrick, the Leinster Training Chairperson, the committee were thrilled that 180 different riders took part in the program with some opting to ride more than one horse and 16 riders opting to travel to different venues to take up the opportunity of more than one session within the program - and why wouldn't these riders do this when they can avail themselves of the cream of trainers for euro25 for these first sessions.
Of the 180 riders just 16 went through to the second training and this was hosted by the Maloney Family at their great facility, Topflight Equestrian Centre in Kilkenny.
On Wednesday, 19th May, 2004 we had the opportunity to see Capt.John Ledingham in action as he put the Young Riders through their paces. The sixteen riders who were divided into four groups of four were Elizabeth Dore (Co. Kildare), Michelle Kelly (Co. Meath), Benny Kuehnle (Co. Laois), Heather Purcell (Co. Kilkenny), Yvonne McCarthney (Co. Carlow), Mary Ellen Rice (Co. Westmeath), Laura Murphy (Co. Westmeath), Elaine O'Neill (Co. Offaly), Jasmine Liekens Shurman (Co. Kilkenny), Jack Dunne (Co. Wicklow), Alison Keogh (Dublin 15), Nicola Lynch (Co. Kilkenny), Mark Flynn (Co. Kilkenny), Scottie Barclay (Co. Kildare), Rachel Wyse (Co. Dublin), Darragh Crowdle (Co. Wexford).
The sessions were excellent and shows very much why the Irish are rising stars in International showjumping for Ponies, Juniors, Young Riders and Senior Riders - John Ledingham was the Tutor and he had various exercises set up in the arena which tested the riders and their ability to "put the horse exactly where they were asked". The exercises were very tough and included dog legs and combinations which John would ask for different distances on and he expected the riders to be able to immediately do as he asked.
John Ledingham is an exceptional coach from both the riders perspective and also for the spectators - he is quiet and encouraging in all the work done but it is obvious that he expects total focus at all times from the riders and expects that the riders have their horses focussing on them at all times as well.
Speaking with some of the riders afterwards they all felt that they had benefited from the sessions regardless of the eventual outcome and they said they would all be keen to participate again in this program and this certainly would be encouraging for the organisers.
The Leinster Region decided to use a portion of their regional training allocation from the central registry to offer 40 riders a euro100 bursary to further their training.This bursary payment allows for them to have 2 private 1 hour lessons or 3 1 hour group sessions and it must be with a qualified and acknowledged Coach/Trainer - they must also use this bursary by October 31st, 2004.
Of the 16 riders at the Leinster National Final Day, 4 were selected to go on to a 3 day intensive training in Necarne, Ireland in August this year. The three days will include coaching from top international dressage and showjumping coaches, seminar sessions with Vets and Nutritionists, plus seminar sessions on the care of International showjump horses and I understand there are to be video nights where the Olympic performances from past years will be scrutinised and discussed for the purpose of learning - all in all it sounds like this will be an extraordinary experience for the 16 riders who will make up this 3 day intensive - and there is a possibility that there will be some wildcards offered for places for the 3 days - there will be more news of this at a later stage.
The four riders who will be representing the Leinster Region at Necarne in August are: Benny Kuehnle, Heather Purcell, Elaine O'Neill and Mark Flynn.
As an added bonus four riders were awarded a euro635 training bursary - again being funds allocated for further training with qualified and acknowledged Coach/Trainers. The four riders awarded this bursary are Elizabeth Dore, Mary Ellen Rice, Laura Murphy and Rachel Wyse.
The committee also decided to award three further bursaries of euro50 to three riders who participated on 14.2hh ponies and these recipients were Darragh Crowdle, Nicola Lynch and Jack Dunne.
Our thanks to Leinster Training Chairperson, Sharon Fitzpatrick for providing us with the information above and congratulations to the SJAI for providing such a great training program for young riders, without whom there would no future sport!
