The first leg of the inaugural Longines League of Nations takes place in Abu Dhabi today, Sunday 11th February. Three riders line out for team duty on Irish-bred horses. Michael Pender on HHS Calais (bred by Ita Brennan) and Mark McAuley on GRS Lady Amaro (bred by Mark’s uncle, Denis Hickey) feature for Team Ireland, while Jack Ryan’s former mount BBS McGregor (bred by Jack’s mother Marguerite Ryan) is now partnered by Abdullah Mohd Al Marri of the United Arab Emirates.
As breeders, many of us aspire to breed a horse capable of competing at 5* Nations Cup level. It is a great achievement to do so, and is often not given due credit by the industry, especially when perhaps the particular team it was on didn’t podium. With this in mind, I’d like to take this opportunity to look back at the 2023 Nations Cup season, and the Irish-bred horses who lined out for team duty.
Including the Nations Cup final in Barcelona, sixteen CSIO5* Nations Cup events took place last year. Impressively, an Irish-bred horse contested ten of these team competitions. Ten individual Irish-bred horses lined out for 5* team duty throughout the 2023 season, representing four different countries. A full list of each horse’s breeding details is included at the end of this feature
First up was Andrew Bourns and Sea Topblue (bred by James & John Meade), who lined out for Ireland in California’s San Juan Capistrano Nations Cup in May, helping the team to a runner-up finish.
Later that month, Ireland fielded their team for Rome, half of which were mounted on Irish-breds, with Michael Pender on HHS Calais and Jack Ryan on BBS McGregor. Having already jumped double clear, Pender & HHS Calais added a third clear round in a jump off with the home nation to clinch the win for Team Ireland.
Nations Cup action moved to Vancouver - Langley in Canada, where Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz (bred by Patrick & Shane Connolly) produced one of only two double clear rounds in the competition, which was won by Ireland.
In June, Tokyo Olympian Kilkenny (bred by Ita Brennan), and the young Max Wachman, represented Ireland at La Baule, France, where the team finished in ninth place. The following weekend, Michael Pender on HHS Calais and Jack Ryan on BBS McGregor were back in Nations Cup action in Sopot, Poland, where Ireland finished fifth.
Four Irish-bred horses lined out for duty in the Nations Cup of Hickstead in July. Germany’s Marcus Ehning partnered DPS Revere (bred by Dara & Fiona O’Malley), USA’s Paris Sellon debuted Attoucha (bred by Luc Henry & Gerry Marron) at Nations Cup level, while Team Ireland fielded two Irish-bred horses; Mark McAuley on GRS Lady Amaro & Jack Ryan on BBS McGregor. McAuley and Ryan both jumped impressive double clear rounds aboard their Irish-bred mounts, however, an unfortunate subsequent disqualification of McAuley and GRS Lady Amaro meant that Ireland had to settle for second place.
Michael Pender, with HHS Calais, and Shane Sweetnam, with James Kann Cruz, got the call-up for the Aga Khan Nations Cup of Dublin. An exceptional performance from the Swiss team, finishing on a zero score, meant that Ireland had to settle for a respectable second place.
For many showjumping breeders in Ireland, having a home-bred compete as part of Team Ireland in the Aga Khan Nations Cup is a major aspiration. In recent years, the Brennan family of Mill House Stud (MHS) in Kilkenny have achieved an exceptional feat. In the past six editions of the Aga Khan Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show, a MHS home-bred has represented Ireland four times; Michael Pender & HHS Calais (2023), Cian O’Connor & Kilkenny (2022) and Greg Broderick & MHS Going Global (2015 & 2016). Kilkenny’s dam is a three-parts sister to MHS Going Global, and as well as sharing a damline, these two top competitors both have an Olympic Games to their name.
After Dublin, the Stephex Masters in Brussels was Ireland’s next Nations Cup outing. Three of Ireland’s four horses for the Belgian event were Irish-bred; Mark McAuley & GRS Lady Amaro, Jack Ryan & BBS McGregor and Max Wachman & Kilkenny. Team Ireland finished the Brussels Nations Cup in sixth place.
Spruce Meadows CSIO5* in Calgary, Canada, was the last Nations Cup stop ahead of the final in Barcelona. Ireland’s Bertram Allen partnered Irish-bred Pacino Amiro (bred by Simon Scott), while Sameh El Dahan made his first appearance for Great Britain on WKD Toronto (bred by Joe Sloan). Allen and Pacino Amiro delivered a superb double clear, the only to do so in the competition, ensuring Ireland took the win.
While an eighth place finish at the Nations Cup final in Barcelona was not what Ireland would have hoped for, two Irish-breds reported for duty on the day; Jack Ryan & BBS McGregor and Max Wachman & Kilkenny.
Overall, the 2023 Nations Cup season was a highly successful one for Irish-bred horses, and Irish riders. These successes bode well for the health and future of Ireland’s sport horse industry.
Congratulations to the breeders of these ten horses on your respective achievements, and to all who played a part, from foal to five star.
Breeding details of above horses (at the time of competition & in alphabetical order):
Attoucha (ZANG) - 2012 mare by Aganix du Seigneur Z out of Gatoucha van 't Roosakker, by Diamant de Semilly. Breeders: Luc Henry & Gerry Marron, Co. Monaghan. Owner: Willow Grace Farms. Rider: Paris Sellon (USA)
BBS McGregor (ISH) - 2012 gelding by Cardento out of Random Chance, by Mark Twain xx. Breeder & Owner: Marguerite Ryan, Co. Kilkenny. Rider: Jack Ryan (IRL)
DPS Revere (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Hermes De Reve out of Celerina, by Cento. Breeders: Dara & Fiona O’Malley, Co. Galway. Owners: Marcus Ehning & Elm Rock BV. Rider: Marcus Ehning (GER)
GRS Lady Amaro (ISH) – 2013 mare by Amaretto D’Arco out of Legal Lady xx, by Over The River xx. Breeder: Denis Hickey, Co. Wexford. Owner: S.N.C McAuley. Rider: Mark McAuley (IRL)
HHS Calais (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Cavalier Royale out of MHS Obos Cruise, by OBOS Quality 004. Breeder: Ita Brennan, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL)
James Kann Cruz (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Kannan out of CSF Telly Cruz, by Cruising. Breeders: Patrick & Shane Connolly, Co. Galway. Owner: Gizmo Partners LLC. Rider: Shane Sweetnam (IRL)
Kilkenny (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Cardento out of MHS Pembrook Lady, by Guidam. Breeder: Ita Brennan, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Susan Magnier. Rider: Max Wachman (IRL)
Pacino Amiro (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Pacino out of Carnone Dancing Queen, by NC Amiro. Breeder: Simon Scott, Co. Donegal. Owner: Aiden McGrory. Rider: Bertram Allen (IRL)
Sea Topblue (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Chacco Blue out of Sea Top Lady, by Lux Z. Breeders: James & John Meade, Co. Clare. Owner: Andrew Bourns & OBS Equestrian LLC. Rider: Andrew Bourns (IRL)
WKD Toronto (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Tornesch out of Zanoubia, by Carnaval Drum. Breeder: Joe Sloan, Co. Antrim. Owner: Joanne Sloan-Allen. Rider: Sameh El Dahan (GBR)
[ MHS Going Global (ISH) – 2006 gelding by Quidam Junior I out of Gowran Lady, by Cavalier Royale. Breeder: Ita Brennan, Co. Kilkenny. Owners: Caledonia Stables & Lee Kruger. Rider: Greg Broderick (IRL) ]
