Dublin Horse Show gets underway
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Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Grand Prix glory for American Kraut as Bisquetta refuses to crumble at RDS
There was a resounding roar in the Dublin Horse Show main arena as Laura Kraut, a seasoned world class double Olympic bronze medallist, steered her quirky mare Bisquetta to glory with a foot-perfect clear round over a maximum 1m60 track on a day when not one nation had produced a clear round from any rider. The Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland saw the US rider second last to jump from 40 qualified riders. Kraut duly produced an elusive magnificent clear round on the 11 Bisquetta to win €165,000 and a brand new ladies watch. It was a day to remember for Kraut, whose lifelong ambition was to win the Dublin Grand Prix even moreso since it is part of the Rolex Series which continues next to Brussels then to Spruce Meadows, Calgary. Thousands packed the stands and watched the numerous screens throughout the RDS site as they basked in sunshine and waited, fully expecting a Rolex second round jump off. The prize fund of €600,000 attracted riders from around the world, many saving their horses for this prestigious Grand Prix which was won last year by Martin Fuchs with Conner Jei. Nobody predicted that clear rounds would be almost non existent, although Kanturk native Shane Sweetnam put in a glorious round with the Irish-bred James Kann Cruz to finish third overall despite four faults in 74.39. Former Irish team chef d'equipe Rodrigo Pessoa, on his second time competing in Dublin, had saved his chestnut gelding Major Tom for this class. Despite one fence down, he was second fastest of the 11 four faults with a time of 73.61, enough to claim the lucrative €100,000 runner up prize. Sweetnam could have won the competition had he gone clear, claimed Ireland's chef d'equipe Michael Blake later. "Shane obviously was second in to jump, and decided to take one less stride to the third fence obviously thinking about the time allowed," said Blake. "James Kann Cruz was in great form, he is always impressive and it was hard luck for Shane to hit the fence." Sweetnam himself added: "My day was a bit weird. I went in second and was too tight back to fence three. When I was jumping the 128cms ponies in Dublin I was eliminated at fence 3," he recalled. However he pointed out. "It got exciting then when there were no clears and everyone was on the edge of their seats. Laura jumped an immaculate round and deserved her win." An emotional Kraut said she had saved her mare Bisquetta for the Rolex, but after walking the course she'd had second thoughts. Her partner, Olympic champion Nick Skelton, was at her side throughout tutoring her in the warm-up paddock. "I was lucky to go late in the class and able to see how the track was going," Kraut said. "Nick said 'this is the perfect class, you just get in there and be the only clear round'. "I didn't expect Bisquetta to do it as easily as she did. She is a unique mare, but she's terrified of other horses, particularly if they swish their tails and she is afraid of other people. She can be quirky but not when you are on her back. This is something I have wanted to do for a very long time, and to win a new Rolex watch too. Winning in Dublin is as good as it gets. All the crowd here are horse people, they are all educated and what an atmosphere." Wexford's Aloga Team rider Bertram Allen was in form with Next Cornet to win The John Higgins Cup and RDS International 7 and 8 years old class beating Cian O'Connor with Pegasus and Michael Pender with HHs Flonix. The Nortev Speed Championship International went to the army equitation school's Comdt Geoff Curran on DHF Alliance, who clocked 60.57 to win from 25 entries. The Irish Kellett Bursary challenge cup was won by Sligo's Paddy Reape with Mr Rocky Blue. Omagh rider Niamh McEvoy came in for special praise from Michael Blake. "She has been phenomenal all week," he said. "A true talent whom I have been watching all year. She won the four-year-old final, the mini Grand Prix, the International Speed and the six-year-old Crusing final for the Michael Moran Trophy. "Her day on the Ireland senior team is fast approaching. Also top rider Rachel Proudley who won the Puissance has a great future ahead. To see Niamh, Rachel and Laura Kraut dominate the big classes this weekend has been great for the sport."
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
As it happened: Galway 1-14 Cork 1-13 – Tribe hold on to win classic All-Ireland Camogie senior final at Croke Park
one minute ago Galway captain Carrie Dolan lifts the O'Duffy Cup aloft: 11 minutes ago Galway's Ailish O'Reilly picked up her fourth senior all-Ireland camogie medal this evening - here's what she had to say to RTE at full-time: Match Finished What a breathless finish to this match. A replay looked inevitable when Orlaith Cahalane found the back of the net, but it's almost fitting that Carrie Dolan's free won it for the Tribeswomen - she finishes the day with 0-7 to her name. Cork battled hard despite the numerical disadvantage. They could have levelled things up in the dying seconds, but Galway made use of the extra body brilliantly. Cathal Murray's side packed out the full-back line and drove out with possession time and time again in added time. The Rebels' 3-in-a-row dreams are dashed - Galway claim their fifth-ever O'Duffy Cup! 60+3' Point Galway Scorer Carrie Dolan A foul by Kate Wall out by the Cusack Stand sideline offers Galway the chance to nudge themselves back in front. Carrie Dolan takes her time and delivers - she has been immense this evening! 60+1' Goal Cork Scorer Orlaith Cahalane GOAL! Unbelievable. A long free into the edge of the parallelogram sees the sliotar bounce into Orlaith Cahalane's grasp. She sprinted ferociously to get away from Shauna Healy and rifled her shot in at the near post. Sarah Healy stood absolutely no chance. Could we be going to a replay!? We have 4 minutes of additional time to play. 60' Substitution Substituted out Emma Murphy Substituted in Kate Wall Cork have to throw everything at this now. A wonderful block from Galway's Ciara Hickey prevents the rebels from getting a shot away easily. Ashling Thompson picks up the scraps but pulls her shot across the face of the posts and wide. 58' Point Cork Scorer Saoirse McCarthy Cork's hope is weighing on ever free and Saoirse McCarthy is doing her level best to keep them in touch. The Courcey Rovers star cuts the gap to 3-points. Galway have been a bit inaccurate at the other end with a couple of wides registered in recent minutes. 54' Point Cork Scorer Saoirse McCarthy After winning the original free, McCarthy takes responsibility into her own hands and thumps over a free into the Hill 16 End goals. 54' Yellow Card Galway Player Carrie Dolan A yellow card for Galway's leading scorer who left her hurl in around the neck of Saoirse McCarthy. 53' Point Galway Scorer Carrie Dolan Once advantage expired and no score materalised after Libby Coppinger's foul, Carrie Dolan takes her tally up to 0-6 when Justin Heffernan brings play back for the free. 51' Point Galway Scorer Ailish O'Reilly Superb score from Ailish O'Reilly who raises the umpire's white flag with a wonderful strike from the '45 line. 50' Substitution Cork Substituted out Amy O'Connor Substituted in Emma Murphy A third full-forward alteration sees O'Connor (0-3) depart for Murphy. 46' Point Galway Scorer Carrie Dolan An assured presence on frees, Dolan makes no mistake once again with her ever-effective routine. Galway regain their 5-point advantage. 45' Substitution Galway Substituted out Caoimhe Kelly Substituted in Sabina Rabbitte The Tribeswomen make their first change of the game as Caoimhe Kelly departs with one point to her name. 45' Substitution Cork Substituted out Sorcha McCartan Substituted in Orlaith Mullins Another alteration in the Cork full-forward line. 44' Point Galway Scorer Niamh Mallon A big score - the first of the second-half for Galway - sees Amy O'Connor turned over at one end before Galway work the sliotar up to Niamh Mallon who registers a point. 43' Point Cork Scorer Amy O'Connor 41' Substitution Cork Substituted out Katrina Mackey Substituted in Clodagh Finn A routine change for Cork in the full-forward line as Mackey is called ashore for Finn, who wins a free with her first possession as Roisin Black pulls her jersey.
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Kraut goes clear to take Grand Prix on final day at RDS
The 2025 Dublin Horse Show has come to a close at the RDS in Ballsbridge where American rider Laura Kraut and the 11-year-old mare Bisquetta emerged as winners of the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland with what the only clear round of the competition. A field of 40 of the world's top horses and riders battled to find the illusive clear round, but it wasn't until Kraut entered the arena as second-last to jump before the audience saw their first and only combination to emerge fault free. Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom finished as runners-up with the fastest of 11 four-fault scores while Cork's Shane Sweetnam finished best of the Irish in third place on the podium with the Patrick Connolly-bred CSF James Kann Cruz (ISH). Former Olympic and World champion Laura Kraut went 39th of 40 riders and won the Grand Prix with the only clear round on Bisquetta 📺 Watch The Dublin Horse Show on @RTEOne and @RTEPlayer #RDSDublinHorseShow — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 10, 2025 Although the Rolex Grand Prix and Friday's Aga Khan illuded the Irish, they did dominate the remaining international competitions at the Dublin Horse Show, scoring no less than eight five-star wins throughout the week. The penultimate competition in the main arena saw Waterford's Commandant Geoff Curran and the Paul Douglas-bred DHF Alliance (ISH) take victory in the Speed Championship. A blistering clear round in 60.57 seconds saw them push Dutch rider Kevin Jochems and Prada Di Costa (61.04) into second, ahead of Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa in third with Dhalida (61.41). Sunday morning's action saw Wexford's Bertram Allen and the 7-year-old gelding Next Coret come out on top in the International 7&8-year-olds competition. Cian O'Connor and Pegasus finished as runners-up ahead of Michael Pender in third with the Brendan McSorley-bred stallion HHS Flonix (ISH). "I'm just so proud of this mare" - Rolex Grand Prix champion Laura Kraut salutes her mount Bisquetta, who produced the only clear round on the day 📺 The Dublin Horse Show on @RTEOne and @RTEPlayer #RDSDublinHorseShow — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 10, 2025 Tyrone's Niamh McEvoy's winning run at the Dublin Horse Show continued on Sunday morning as she came out on top in the Six-year-old 'Cruising' National Championship with the Ennisnag Stud-bred BP Othello (ISH). A second round clear in 34.35 saw them finish over four seconds faster than the only other double clear which came from Vincent Byrne and Belle Mai, while Harry Wood finished third with Juana Moussardiere. The 5 Year Old 'Flexible' National Championship saw Shane Dalton and the WSI-approved stallion, Unicum - H owned by Ennisnag Stud, Andrew Hughes & Westbury Stud, take the win ahead of Tabitha Kyle and Ottani Z in second and Jack Kent with Castlefield Tycoon in third.
