H&C

“The first week in Athens was a 2* show which I used as a warm up to get to know a new horse, World Breaker. I also had Carmena Z and Beowulf who I gave an easy week, as they had been in Calagary a fortnight before. The second week in Athens was a 3* and also a Nations Cup. More money to be won! World Breaker and I had formed a good relationship over the previous week. I was feeling confident enough to put him in the big class on the Wednesday, a 1.50 speed, which he won. I didn't jump Carmena Z as he was in the Nations Cup the following day. Beowulf had a fence down in the 1.50 speed. In the Nations Cup on Thursday, I jumped Carmena Z. We started off as favourites but infortunately things didn't go according to plan and we finished fifth. The other two horses had a rest that day. Day three, I jumped Beowulf in an accumulator that he finished eighth and jumped World Breaker in the 1.50 jump off class and he was second. On the last day, World Breaker jumped the 1.45 jump off and we won! Carmena jumped in the 1.60 Grand Prix and we were second. I also won leading rider at the show. All in all it was a good trip, and I am delighted with my new horse World Breaker - I think that we have a good future together. On the team in Athens, my team mates did very well; they were two young riders, Alex Duffy and Nicola Fitzgibbon and both have a bright future. Nial Talbot, an old hand at the game now, excelled with a double clear. I flew home on Saturday night and on Sunday I had clients here. The horse went really well, the girl rode really well and I think that they will be a good match. I schooled the three horses that are going to HOYS this week: Royal Concorde for the speed classes and Dorada and Mullaghdrin Gold Rain for the jump off classes. All three have been very competitive for me, I know them well, so fingers crossed they will all go well. I also have Camblin for the Grade C final. The horses will be home from Athens on Wednesday evening, thanks to Julia and her aunt, Helen Evans. For the next couple of weeks I’ll be in the UK, with Aintree show the week after HOYS. I’m looking forward to maybe going to Ireland on a shopping spree – I like to stock up with horses at this time of year. So if anyone is looking for a new horse, give us a call!”

"I am currently in Athens waiting for the start of the CSIO Nations Cup tomorrow. Myself, Alex Duffy, Nial Talbot and Nicola Fitzgibbon are on the team. We have been here for a week already as there was a CSI 2* last week. It was good to have a smaller show to get the horses used to the arena. The logistics team, Julia and Edward, did a brilliant job of driving the horses down to Greece, allowing me to stay at home for a couple of extra days. They set off last Sunday morning and this is what Edward had to say: “We left a dark Hickstead at 3.45am and headed to Dover followed by the yard boy David Simpson with his little friend Jack, off to Belgium to pick up his new horse. We travelled with P&O, not because of the price... but because they do a far superior breakfast in the truckers' lounge. We headed south, via Reims, Troyes, and Dijon, to our overnight stables at Bourg en bresse. The horses travelled really well. The French motorways were very quiet and it wasn't too hot. Plenty of drinks and a small feed during the day kept us happy, as well the horse. A fantastic supper of spaghetti bol finished the day off. Bed by 10 for an early start and the drive to Cervia." The ferry crossing from Cervia was 22 hours. The conditions for the horses were very good, with industrial sized fans to keep them cool. As always when the horses are travelling, Catherine Woods does a fantastic job of looking after the horses. It is the attention to detail that she gives when she is looking after them that makes sure they arrive in top condition. It is very easy for horses to get travel sick, so it is imperative that they have plenty of rest stops to allow them to drink and urinate. Back at home, the lads went Eventing at Ardingly. Lucy Bunn took a very promising home-bred mare. This was only her second event, and all things considered they did very well. Her dressage test was much improved but this time her jumping let her down. Not what you would expect from a show jumper! She was clear cross country, bar a few time faults. Lucy was delighted when Pippa Funnell commented on what a lovely mare her horse was. Sue Bunn also had a couple of home-bred youngsters on the lorry, well ridden by Brian Cassidy who narrowly missed out on a ribbon with his own Electric Royale – time faults again. It is quite tricky to adjust to the speed needed for cross country when you have spent your career in the show jumping ring. On Sunday it was back to jumping with a trip to Royal Leisure for the youngsters. It is so important to give the younger horses plenty of experience without putting them under any pressure. Many an hour is spent at Royal Leisure during the winter slowly bringing the horses up through the grades. The show in Athens finishes on Saturday. The horses will be on the ferry on Sunday lunchtime, so if all things go according to plan they will be home by Wednesday evening. I’m heading off to HOYS before they get back, taking Dorada, Royal Concorde and Mullaghdrin Gold Rain. Camblin has qualified for the Grade C final with me and David is also riding him in the Young Riders final. It’s great to get an invite to one of the UK’s leading shows. Touch wood, I usually have a good show at Birmingham, so fingers crossed!"

This is the first blog that I have been asked to do – to be honest the whole notion of a blog is a little alien to me. Computers didn’t really enter into my life until I got married, although I can now use one to book flights to go home for hunting with the Scarteens (Black & Tans) in Limerick during the winter. I have been told that a blog is a bit like having a chat with a friend, so here goes. I am at the Spruce Meadows Master show in Calgary, Canada at the moment. It is the final day. It has been a good trip despite no big wins. Carmena Z and Beowulf flew out here from Frankfurt last week with our head groom Catherine Woods. They travelled well and I joined them on Monday evening. Both are relatively inexperienced at this level, so it has been an invaluable show in that it has given them crucial experience on the world stage. Carmena Z (stable name Leo - Carmel & Dermot Ryan’s wonderful grey stallion, winner of the Old Lodge Queen’s Cup at Hickstead in 2008) was 7th in the Jump Off class on the first day – a great result to have on his record. Beowulf (Wolf, another grey stallion, owned by Michael Quirke from Tipperary) jumps in a speed class this morning. This is the first show that I have really asked him any questions. He has been with us for the summer, and I have taken it very slowly with him, to try and build a friendship with him. It seems to have paid off as he has been brilliant all week. The team at home have been hard at work too. Lucy, David and Cass took 14 horses to Golden Cross show near Hailsham, East Sussex. The good news is that the open horses won a few quid. It is always encouraging to hear that we are making a profit, albeit only £36! David was particularly pleased with the six-year-old mare Andina Z by Andiamo, belonging to Keith Prescott & Regina Hamil – she won the Foxhunter class with a lovely double clear. We have another six-year-old mare by Andiamo in the yard, Ardina, she is looking very promising too. Today the lads have travelled up to Towerlands with a different team of horses. Two of our owners, Fidelma Kehoe & Ayumi Kotani have travelled over to watch and I’ve just heard that they all performed well. I am now in a very fortunate position that when I am away on international duty I have a back up team at home that can produce and compete the horses to such a high level. Leo and Wolf arrive back at Frankfurt on Tuesday. They will go to Cameron Hanley’s yard (fellow team member in Calgary) for a rest before the logistics team (Julia and Edward Bunn) fly out to bring the lorry home with Dermot Lennon’s horses. In fact, Leo and Wolf will be resting in Holland for the week before heading off to Athens for the Nations Cup at the end of the week. I fly home this evening. I can’t wait to see Chloe and the girls - Darcy is only 8 weeks so I bet I’ll notice a big change in her after being away for a week!