Irish Sport Horses are Puissance champions at Olympia

Francis Murray General December 16, 2016

Irish Sport Horse Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier ridden by Co. Antrim’s Christopher Megahey produced an outstanding performance at the world famous London International Horse Show in Olympia last night (Thursday), to finish as joint winners of the Cayenne sponsored Puissance competition with Holly Smith riding Quality Old Joker (ISH).

The two Irish Sport Horses were the only ones to clear the wall in the 5^th round at a gripping height of 2.15m (7ft 1inches). Holly Smith of Great Britain was the first to leave all red bricks standing but eighteen year old Megahey wasn’t going to be beaten, also clearing the great height. Riders shared the winner’s prize of €12,500.

Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier, bred by Noel Walsh, Co. Carlow, and owned by Britt Megahey has shown his talent for Puissance competitions in the past couple of years. The Cruise On (ISH) gelding won the Emerald International Puissance in 2014 with Megahey as well as the Land Rover Puissance at the RDS Dublin Horse Show in 2015 under Sameh El Dahan from Egypt. He also finished second in the Horse Of The Year Show Puissance earlier this year and placed third in the class at Liverpool International Show.

Joint winner, Quality Old Joker (ISH), is astonishingly only eight years old. The OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) gelding was bred by Roberta Dowley, Co. Kilkenny and is owned by the rider, Holly Smith (GBR).

A podcast of the winning interview with Christopher Megahey is available to listen HERE

Holly Smith riding Quality Old Joker (ISH) and Christopher Megahey riding Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier (ISH) joint winners of the 2016 Puissance at London International Horse Show in Olympia, pictured with the Duchess of Cornwall (Photo: Horsepower)

BREEDING DETAILS:

=1st Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier (ISH) – 2002 gelding by Cruise On (ISH) out of Cavalier Countess (WNTR), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Breeder: Noel Walsh, Co. Carlow. Owner: Britt Megahey. Rider: Christopher Megahey (IRL)

=1st Quality Old Joker (ISH) – 2008 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Little Joker (WNTR), by Slyguff Joker VII (WNTR). Breeder: Roberta Dowley, Co. Kilkenny. Owner/Rider: Holly Smith (GBR)