Irish showjumper Cian O’Connor is about to achieve a outstanding occupation milestone on the Agria Royal Global Horse Display at Hickstead this afternoon (Friday 26 July).
Within the characteristic showjumping magnificence, the Agria International locations Cup of Nice Britain, the a lot embellished rider will constitute Eire in a International locations Cup pageant for the one hundred and fiftieth time.
This remarkable carrying fulfillment comes 25 years after Cian made his International locations Cup debut on the age of nineteen and his first top-tier crew look within the inexperienced coat of Eire got here at Hickstead the next yr.
“It looks like a complete circle second,” Cian instructed H&H of his landmark go back to the British venue.
“In 1999, I did two International locations Cups – one in Zagreb in Croatia and one in Athens. Then in 2000, I did Helsinki, Drammen and Falsterbo, sooner than my first five-star got here at Hickstead in 2000.”
For his one hundred and fiftieth International locations Cup look at Hickstead on Friday afternoon, Cian shall be using the 10-year-old stallion Fermoy, co-owned with Keira Stoute and Sarah Stoute. However this milestone shall be “additional particular” because the Dublin local shall be using on Eire’s showjumping crew along two of his pupils, Max Wachman with Kilkenny and brother Tom Wachman using Berlux Z, either one of whom had been a part of Eire’s gold medal-winning younger riders crew on the Ecu Championships within the Netherlands ultimate week. Denis Lynch will act as Eire’s pathfinder in Friday’s International locations Cup using Vistogrand.
Cian O’Connor: “Nice other people and horses have crossed my trail”
“I’ve been very fortunate – no longer simplest with the folks that experience crossed my trail however the nice horses that experience crossed my trail, too – and I’ve had incredible alternatives,” mentioned Cian reflecting on his 150 International locations Cup caps, which come with 4 victories within the Aga Khan Trophy in Dublin, and serving to to protected Eire’s position on the Tokyo Olympics with a high-pressure win on the International locations Cup Ultimate in Barcelona in 2019.
“I feel it was once a little bit more uncomplicated again within the early days – you jumped nationally, then there wasn’t a lot selection, your occupation was once within the chef d’equipe’s palms and in the event you sought after to go back and forth in another country you went on International locations Cups. 365 days I jumped on 12 International locations Cups, while in this day and age riders do two, 3 or 4 as a result of there are such a lot of different circuits happening.
“So it’s a pleasant milestone to achieve, however issues are very other now.”
“I received’t damage John Whitaker’s International locations Cup document!”
12 months in the past at Hickstead, Nice Britain’s Olympic legend John Whitaker – who turns 70 subsequent yr – sealed his a hundred and eightieth International locations Cup look with a British win, however Cian O’Connor mentioned that’s no longer a document he’ll be chasing.
“I received’t damage John’s document, as a result of I’m certain I received’t be using for so long as him!” mentioned Cian, 44. “However it’s great to have fun 150.”
This shall be Cian’s first International locations Cup look with Fermoy, however the stallion has been leaping smartly at five-star in contemporary months, together with a win in Ocala, Florida, completing tenth within the Aachen grand prix and a double transparent for 6th within the grand prix of Rotterdam.
“He’s since had somewhat damage, jumped transparent in [Thursday’s] 1.50m magnificence and he feels on actual shape, so I’m taking a look ahead to leaping the International locations Cup with him,” mentioned Cian, who has just lately been joined at his Karlswood stables via former main world rider Cameron Hanley.
“I’m overjoyed to have Cameron on board – he’s serving to me with Max and Tom but in addition any other scholars. I attempt to have the most efficient other people round me as a result of as Karlswood has grown and evolved, you’ll’t do all of it by yourself, so I’m very fortunate to have such nice other people at the floor.”
Cian O’Connor, who received particular person bronze on the London 2012 Olympics, has been decided on to constitute Eire at his fourth Olympic Video games in Paris subsequent week using some other horse co-owned with Keira and Sarah Stoute, the 12-year-old Maurice.
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