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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Netherlands claim Aga Khan Cup as Ireland finish third
The iconic golden Aga Khan trophy for showjumping, the most historic trophy in the sport was held aloft by the mighty dutch team on the 150th anniversary of Dublin Horse Show where they finished on a zero score on a balmy day at Ballsbridge. It was a closely contested eight team competition, but the Netherlands galloped off with six show stopping clear rounds to claim the Aga Khan trophy and €64,000. Germany finished on the fastest four fault score as runners up and Ireland, despite a gallant attempt claimed third on four faults with a duo of first time supertalented riders. The young guns and future Olympians of Irish showjumping, Tom Wachman (20) and Seamus Hughes Kennedy (22) were outstanding beyond their years producing double clear rounds with their horses Tabasco de Toxandria Z and ESI Rocky. Olympian Cian O'Connor with Bentley de Sury finished with a four faulter and clear round, while discard score was Denis Lynch with a fence down in each round. PUT ON A SHOW: Ireland's Tom Wachman on Tabasco de Toxandria Z. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane Michael Blake's squad gave an exhibition of super talent, cool horses and accurate tough competitive riders, with Wachman and Hughes Kennedy sending the crowds whooping and cheering to the clouds. As both youngsters gave the performances of their career in a front of a home crowd, the smiles on their faces were priceless as they punched the air and their families cheered from the sidelines. As sport goes, the 2025 Aga Khan trophy event had energy and vibe as new show director Fiona Sheridan said: "What a competition, our two very special young riders and and Irish bred horse ESI Rocky." Chef d'equipe of the winning team Wout Jan van der Schans was ecstatic. "Yes I had good confidence. Despite Frank Schuttert falling off his horse after the opening team parade." Frank, a six footer, who partnered the bay mare Isis, had the discard scores in both rounds, but the reason later emerged. "I was on my way back after the parade, my mare had shoes on and was a bit fresh. She slipped and I fell on the hip that I broke four months ago. "However I was delighted my team mates all produced double clear rounds, I had a lot of confidence in them." The dutch pounded along on their 17 hand power houses, as Kevin Jochems and Camilla Van de Helle explained: "My horse is in good shape and getting better and better. She was nine when she came to me and today it went perfect. In the past she always had a fence down. I just love it here, the arena is really good. " Willem Greve, who partnered the exuberant breeding stallion Grandorado, impressed the spectators with his huge jump and verve. "The more he's in the ring the more he's confident and he improves his jump. He's very strong and sensitive. After ten years I now trust in him a bit more. " Harrie Smolders, a seasoned veteran of Dublin having been on the Aga Khan winning team in 2010 was the anchor man whose final clear round sealed the deal to ensure Germany and Ireland finished in second and third. Mr Tac owned by the Normandy based breeder Genevieve Megret came to Smolders from previous rider Victor Bettendorf. Smolders added: "I am really focused as a sports person in a decider. "I wouldn't call it really pressure because in sport you get really focused to win and seal the deal. The Aga Khan event is in a beautiful tribune, has a fantastic atmosphere. Mr Tac and I are getting it better and better. He's phenomenal and I would like to thank the Megret family who are real horse people for giving him to me." He added: "We had seven double clears in the whole competition, the time was not too much pressure and the last two fences of the course were the most difficult. Fiona Sheridan paid tribute to the course builder Alan Wade and to Ireland's young guns who produced double clear rounds and drew huge cheers from the thousands of spectators who turned out in style. Germany's team led by chef d'equipe Otto Becker gave an exhibition of horsemanship and had opening clears from Sandra Auffurth with Quirici H and Marco Kutschre on Catelly. Christian Ahlmann was discard score in the opening round with Blueberry while Richard Vogel tipped a fence on Cloudio. Ahlmann and Auffurth produced foot perfect clears in the second round as did Vogel with Kutscher tipping a fence. Ireland never flinched throughout, with confidence and accuracy. In the opening round Denis Lynch's stallion Vistogrand pinged one fence for four faults, but Tom Wachman and Seamus Hughes Kennedy drove the crowd crazy with their skills and huge jumps through the finish and a clean set of heels in four rounds. CLEAR ROUNDS: Ireland's Seamus Hughes Kennedy. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane Cian O'Connor with the talented Bentley de Sury opened on a four faulter and resounding clear in the second round to match clears from Wachman and Hughes Kennedy. Ireland and Germany fought hard throughout to stay ahead of the USA, with Germany overhauling Ireland for runner up place thanks to a faster overall time. The USA under chef d'equipe Robert Ridland were fourth on eight faults. Laura Kraut, twice Olympic bronze medallist produced an outstanding performance with a clear and four, with double clears from McLain Ward. Tom Wachman was confident of a clear prior to the Nations' Cup. "It's a huge honour to ride in the Aga Khan for the first time. I have great faith in my horse Tabasco, I have had him for a year and he's jumped at many super venues. " Gerry Mullins, international trainer and former Irish army rider praised track builder Alan Wade. "It was a big course, wide oxers 1.70m, technical in parts. The good partnerships figured out the solutions." Mullins tutored Canadian team rider Nicole Walker who had a perfect opening clear round with Panter JVH but sadly the Canadian team drifted into oblivion for sixth place on 24 penalties ahead of Mexico on 36 and Switzerland with a disastrous 41 penalties. However Mullins was delighted with Walker on her first Aga Khan event. " Nikki is a really hard worker who deserves her clear round, she rode exceptionally well and calm in her first Dublin Nations Cup. I am delighted." Great Britain had a disappointing competition with a 16 penalty score for fifth place. Joseph Stockdale, Adrian Whiteway, Matthew Sampson and Donald Whitaker couldn't cut the mustard for a clear in the opening round, but it was too late to make a comeback in the second round despite clears from Stockdale, Sampson and Whitaker. Ireland still added €33,000 to their prize fund as they gear up for Sunday's half a million euro Rolex Grand Prix. The Dublin Horse Show Grand Prix is a firm favourite of the international five star calendar and is a prep for the million dollar first prize masters next month in Spruce Meadows, Calgary. Sunday's Grand Prix has Rolex specialist Martin Fuchs and Conner Jei ready to pounce. Despite a lack lustre performance in the Aga Khan, Fuchs will be a front runner to win on Sunday. The McLain Ward has also his eye on the money, as has Derry individual Daniel Coyle with his Olympic mare Legacy. However Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Tom Wachman could cause problems for the favourites as they know how to give tackle the galloping huge tracks on their home turf. Richard Vogel and Christian Ahlmann are the German aces certain to pose a challenge while their colleague Sandra Auffurth will give them a run for their money. Harrie Smolders and Cian O'Connor, seasoned campaigners, both 1m 60 specialists will be lurking in the wings for victory so Sunday's Rolex Grand Prix is the next ultimate Irish showjumping event not to be missed. Today Saturday the Landrover Defender Puissance is the crowd puller, and Ballsbridge is the centre of the equestrian universe. Aga Khan Nations Cup Trophy 1 Netherlands 0 points 2 Germany 4 points 209.73 3 Ireland 4 points 215.84 4 USA 8 points 5 Great Britain 16 points. 6 Canada 24 points
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Netherlands win Aga Khan as Ireland finish third in Nations Cup
Ireland have finished third in the home Nations Cup for the award of the Aga Khan Trophy. Michael Blake's men made it three podiums on the spin at the RDS since their win in 2022, a total of four faults placing the team third behind winner the Netherlands and Germany. They were just pipped for second on time after Ireland and Germany both only had one pole down across their scoring rounds, and it all came down to whether Harrie Smolders and Isis could keep their cool and deliver a flawless final round to give the orange jackets the win. Tom Wachman and Seamus Hughes Kennedy showed coolness beyond their tender years with double clears each, while Cian O'Connor and Denis Lynch kept the ship steady - the Irish just falling short at the death. READ MORE Blake said: 'We tried really, really hard and the lads were phenomenal. Seamus and Tom having double clears on their Aga Khan debut shows just how good they are. 'We were up against very strong teams out there. You look at the strength of the Germans, who we were level with on four faults, and it was an extremely good American team who finished behind us - that makes the result that bit better, even though we're disappointed not to win. 'You would have to be pleased, we're creating depth that a lot of other nations don't have, and eventually depth is going to pay off. 'If you look at it, zero is what is needed to win five-star Nations Cups - that's how we won our two earlier this year and that's what won here today. We made very few mistakes today but it was the mistakes that cost us. Nonetheless, I'm very proud.' Ireland's Seamus Hughes Kennedy. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Lynch and Vistogrand, Ireland's pathfinders, were first in for Blake's side and came home with four faults, the best score of those who had jumped at that point, with a foot in the water doing the damage. That just meant there was the slightest hint of urgency for Wachman and Tabasco De Toxandria Z after Aaron Vale and Styles had jumped clear for the defending champions the United States. Following final instructions from his coach and teammate O'Connor, Wachman, on his Aga Khan debut, was ice cool and delivered a perfect round of jumping for Ireland's first clear of the afternoon. Nerveless and fearless Seamus Hughes Kennedy kept the Irish right in the thick of things as Ireland's third combination, delivering another clear for Blake's team. After his round, Hughes Kennedy said: 'Obviously that was great. Having seen Tom going clear before me and Denis being unlucky with a foot in the water I knew that I needed a clear to keep our score low. 'Rocky jumped brilliant, it's an excellent course made by Alan Wade in a big grass ring. To say I've jumped clear in an Aga Khan is great but now I want a double clear. 'Everything went to plan, it rode the way the we planned and there were no major surprises. Fingers crossed for the same again next time.' O'Connor and Bentley De Sury, as Ireland's anchors, knew a clear would have Ireland on a perfect score at the break but one pole down didn't add to the total and there was precious little in it after round one. With Ireland in fourth position at the break, Lynch and Vistogrand returned to the fray and, as they did in their first foray, came home with a four-fault score. There was no immediate damage as both first-line combinations for USA and the Netherlands had eight faults each, with the door still open for the home side. The young guns, Wachman and Hughes Kennedy, stole the show and sent the RDS into raptures with a pair of double clear rounds as Ireland remained just a pole behind leaders the Netherlands with the anchors to come - high stakes, especially with the Dutch clinging onto a discard eight from pathfinder Frank Schuttert and Isis. O'Connor had no option if Ireland were to stay in the competition with any chance of a jump-off - clear or bust - and the Meathman delivered. His flawless round guaranteed a podium for Ireland but a pole down was needed from the Dutch to force a jump-off. There was no mistake from Harrie Smolders and Mr Tac as they jumped double clear to finish on a zero score to take the Aga Khan Trophy back to the Netherlands.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Netherlands win Aga Khan Trophy as Ireland finish third
Ireland finished in third place in the Nations Cup Of Ireland at the Dublin Horse Show as the Netherlands lifted the Aga Khan Trophy. The Dutch were the only team to finish on a zero score after a superb display by their quartet of Frank Schuttert, Kevin Jochem, William Greve and Harrie Smolders. Anchor rider Smolders was under huge pressure when entering the arena at the RDS as last to go, as he knew a fence down would mean a three-way jump-off between Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany. Smolders kept his cool and delivered the all-important clear as his nation won the Aga Khan for the first time since 2010. Tom Wachman and Tabasco De Toxandria Z record a superb double-clear round for Ireland in the race for the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 8, 2025 Ireland's display featured superb double-clear performances from 20-year-old Tom Wachman on Tabasco De Toxandria Z and 23-year-old Seamus Hughes Kennedy on ESI Rocky. Cian O'Connor had four faults in the first round on Bently De Sury before jumping clear second time out. Denis Lynch and Vistogrant had four faults in each round, with Ireland finishing on a final score of four faults. Germany finished as runners-up on the same four-fault score as Ireland, but in a faster time. The USA, who came into the competition as defending champions, had been in a share of the lead at the halfway stage but had to settle for fourth place ahead of Great Britain in fifth, Canada in sixth, Mexico in seventh and Switzerland in eighth place. The Dublin Horse Show continues on Saturday, with the Defender Puissance taking centre stage, before the action comes to a close following Sunday's Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland.
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Derry's Jordan Coyle grabs another win at Dublin Horse Show
Derry's Jordan Coyle scored his second win in as many days at the 2025 Dublin Horse Show, with a superb performance in today's Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes. Riding the 14-year-old gelding Chaccolino, Coyle was one of six riders to make it into the jump-off. His second round clear in 37.19 seconds proved unbeatable, with American world number eight McLain Ward and Imperial HBF taking runner-up spot in 38.56, while Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa recorded his second podium finish of the week, taking third place with Major Tom. Tipperary's Tom Wachman earlier warmed-up for Friday's Aga Khan with a victory in the Anglesea Speed Stakes. Wachman guided the nine-year-old mare Hawaii to the fastest clear in 69.51 seconds, to finish just ahead of Switzerland's Bryan Balsiger in second with Fais Toi Belle du Seigneur Pleville (69.65), while Denis Lynch finished third with Katja (70.10). Irish riders have now taken victory in four of the five international competitions so far at the Dublin Horse Show and will be hoping that winning form continues on Friday for the team, who have been drawn fifth to jump in the Nations Cup of Ireland for the famous Aga Khan trophy. The Netherlands will be the pathfinders followed by Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Great Britain, Mexico and defending champions USA. Team manager Michael Blake has named a four-man team of Tipperary's Denis Lynch with Vistogrand, Tipperary's Tom Wachman with Tabasco De Toxandria Z, Kilkenny's Seamus Hughes Kennedy with ESI Rocky (ISH) and Meath's Cian O'Connor with Bentley De Sury. For Wachman, his Aga Khan appearance comes 10 years after his first jumped in the famous Ballsbridge arena in 2015 in the 12.2 pony competition. "That's probably my first real memory. It's a great class, always scheduled after the Aga Khan. There's usually a good crowd for it, and it's very fast and competitive," the 20-year-old recalls. "It's a home show, with a big crowd here, and everyone's supporting the Irish. You meet a lot of people you mightn't see all year, but you meet them in Dublin—that's how it has always been since I started coming here. It's a special week, and I always look forward to it." Ireland's last Aga Khan win came in 2022 and they go in search of what would be their 25th Aga Khan victory in front of their home fans.
