Who have been Ireland’s highest ranked breeders in 2020, across the three Olympic disciplines of Showjumping, Eventing and Dressage? Let’s delve into the Hippomundo Breeder Rankings and find out. Well done to each of these Irish breeders on their respective ranking and breeding successes.
SHOWJUMPING
Firstly, let's take a look at the Showjumping rankings. With a combined total of €157,584 won by his home-bred horses, Justin Burke of Galway Bay Stud is Ireland’s highest ranked showjumping breeder of 2020. Former World Equestrian Games competitor Luibanta BH (Luidam x Abantos), ridden by Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire, is the highest earner of these home-bred horses. James Wilson (GBR) took over the ride on Galway Bay Jed (Romanov x Lux Z) in 2020, who is next in line. Five Galway Bay Stud-bred horses added to the total prize money figure won in 2020.
Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes ranks second, with her Hughes Horse Stud (HHS) home-bred horses earning €124,585 last year, which was contributed to by eight horses. Ireland’s Mikey Pender campaigned the two highest earners; HHS Fortune (Catoki x ARD VDL Douglas) & HHS Burnchurch (Heritage Fortunus x Cavalier Royale).
Derry breeder Liam McKee placed third on €100,115, of which his flagship mare Penelope Cruz (Ustinov x Peter Pan) won €99,495. Ridden by Ireland’s Capt. Brian Cournane, Penelope Cruz claimed the runner-up spot in both the CSI5* Grand Prix in Wellington and the CSI2* Grand Prix at Traverse City in 2020.
Brian Duff (Meath), Ita Brennan (Kilkenny), Charles Howard Cranston (Monaghan), Carmel Ryan (Waterford), Lady Georgina Forbes (Longford), Cheryl Broderick (Tipperary) and George McDonald (Longford) finish out the Top Ten breeder rankings in the Showjumping section.
Top 20 Irish Breeders - 2020 Hippomundo Showjumpings Rankings (Credit: Hippomundo)
EVENTING
On the Eventing front, Wicklow’s John Mulvey is the highest-ranking Irish breeder, based on the success of Brookfield Inocent (Inocent x Kings Servant). Partnered by Great Britain’s Piggy March, Brookfield Inocent claimed second place in all of his three international outings in 2020; Pau CCI5*-L, Little Downham CCI4*-S & Alnwick - Burgham CCI4*-S.
Next up is the late Kilkenny breeder, Ita Brennan of Mill House Stud (MHS), who also placed fifth in the 2020 Showjumping rankings. Half-brothers MHS King Joules (Quidam Junior I x Cavalier Royale) and MHS Brown Jack (OBOS Quality 004 x Cavalier Royale) make up the bulk of the eventing prize money winnings in 2020. Their dam, Gowran Lady, will be familiar to many as the dam of 2016 Rio Olympic Games competitor MHS Going Global, ridden by Greg Broderick & later Athina Onassis.
Third placed in the eventing rankings is Andrea Etter (Sportpferde AG Etter) of Belmont House Stud in County Offaly. Home-bred Fernhill By Night (Radolin x Argentinus) claimed the Aiken CCI4*-S, under USA’s Liz Halliday-Sharp, in September.
Completing the Top Ten rankings of Irish eventing breeders for 2020 are Oonagh Kennedy (Kerry), J.W. Rosbotham (Armagh), Margaret Power, Michael Beattie (Down), Marion Hughes (Kilkenny - 2nd in SJ rankings), Paul O’Byrne (Limerick) and Alan Molan (Cork).
Top 20 Irish Breeders - 2020 Hippomundo Eventing Rankings (Credit: Hippomundo)
DRESSAGE
Two Irish breeders featured in the Dressage rankings for 2020. Irish international Dressage rider Heike Holstein leads the rankings with a horse both bred and ridden by her; Sambuca (Samarant x Limmerick). In five international outings in 2020, the pair recorded Top Ten placings in four of them, including 6th place in the Dortmund CDI4* Grand Prix and fourth in Keysoe CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle to Music.
Louth Breeder James Lee features second in the Dressage rankings, based on the results of his home-bred Irish Draught stallion Steeped In Luck (Mount Diamond Flag x Agherlow). A Class 1 stallion in the Irish Draught Horse Studbook, Steeped In Luck currently competes at CDI3* Grand Prix level with the USA’s Elisabeth Austin.
Top Irish Breeders - 2020 Hippomundo Dressage Rankings (Credit: Hippomundo)
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