Kilkenny horses and riders help Ireland to gold medal success at Youth Show Jumping European Championships

An incredible weekend for Ireland at the FEI European Youth Show Jumping Championships in Gorla Minore, Italy, saw Kilkenny horses and riders play a leading role, with Ireland making history by winning two team golds, an individual gold and an individual silver medal.

Leading the way was Seamus Hughes-Kennedy from Danesfort who was a key part of the five-member Irish U21 team that won the European team gold medal last Friday. It was a real Kilkenny success story as the horse that Seamus was riding, the 8-year-old gelding ESI Rocky (ISH), was bred at Ennisnag Stud in Stoneyford, which is managed by brothers Andrew and Niall Hughes. 

It was a dominant performance from the Irish U21 team, managed by James Kernan who represented Ireland at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

Ireland came into the final round in a strong position, holding almost two fences in hand on their nearest rivals. Three perfect clear rounds in the final decider saw Ireland take the gold medal in style, to finish on a final score of just 2.5 penalties – well clear of Belgium who took silver on 15.09 penalties while Great Britain took bronze on 18.41.

The winning Irish team also included Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy, Tipperary’s Max Wachman, Clare’s Rhys Williams, and Mayo’s Ciaran Nallon.

In a remarkable performance, Seamus Hughes-Kennedy, a son of Clare Hughes and Melvyn Kennedy, went on to claim the individual gold medal with ESI Rocky(ISH) 48 hours later to be crowned double European Champions and confirm their position as the top Young Rider (U21) Show Jumping combination across Europe.

Speaking after collecting his second European gold medal, Seamus Hughes Kennedy (21) said:
"I'd like to thank everyone that has helped us, it has been a long road. A special thanks to Ennisnag Stud run by our uncles just down the road. They bred the horse [ESI Rocky] and we bought him then as a young horse and have had him for the last six years - so it 's been good to have something to show for it. A double gold medal sounds good so I can't complain."

The U18 European team final also saw Ireland win the gold medal, with no less than three of the five Irish team members all coming from Co Kilkenny.

The team included brothers Eoin and Timmy Brennan, sons of Tim and Olivia Brennan from Gowran, along with their cousin James Brennan who is also from Gowran and the son of Tom and Sinead Brennan. James Brennan was riding the Irish-bred horse MHS Im The One (ISH), who was bred in Kilkenny by Tom Brennan.

Speaking to The Irish Horse Board, a delighted Tom Brennan said:

“It’s unbelievable. The two anchor riders Tom and Coen were out of this world the way they jumped, they took us out of a hole – its a great result for everyone.

It’s great for James Kernan as he hadn’t won a gold medal before this week and now he has two team gold at the same championships. It’s been a great championships for Irish-bred horses.

Seamus Hughes’ horse ESI Rocky (ISH) looks to be exceptional and so too is Niamh McEvoy’s Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick (ISH).”

The gold medal winning Irish U18 team also included Clare’s Coen Williams and Tipperary’s Tom Wachman. The Netherlands took silver, while Britain claimed the bronze.

The Junior (18) European final was also saw Irish success, with Tipperary’s Tom Wachman and Cathalina S taking individual silver. Kilkenny’s Eoin Brennan finished in sixth place individually with Eskola M, while Clare’s Coen Williams and Conthanja finished eighth.

The Irish U14 team at the Championships also included a Kilkenny rider - Alice Moloney, daughter of Tom and Linda Moloney who are part of the team at Warrington Top Flight Equestrian Centre just outside Kilkenny City. Alice jumped three clear rounds to help the Irish team to an eighth place finish and she also qualified for the individual final.

Alison Corbally, Director General of the Irish Horse Board said:

“This has been an amazing European Championships for Irish horses and riders and follows the incredible work done by breeders, owners, riders, coaches and parents which resulted in an amazing overall medal haul.

It was a real success story for Kilkenny in particular, with so many of the medal-winning horses and riders coming from the county.

Many congratulations to Seamus Hughes-Kennedy, his parents Clare Hughes and Melvyn Kennedy and to Ennisnag Stud, the breeders of ESI Rocky (ISH) on a fantastic performance to become double Young Rider European champions.

Congratulations also to all of the Brennan families who played a key role in Ireland’s U18 gold medal win and also to Alice Moloney who did brilliantly on our U14 team.”