Easy for Wachman in London GP
O’Connor third in World Cup, Allen wins 3-star GP in Belgium
Tom Wachman brought the curtain down on spectacular season personally, and for Irish show jumping in general, by winning the Grand Prix on his first ever visit to the five-star London International Horse Show at the heaving Excel arena last night.
Wachman came out on top in a high-class jump-off with the brilliant Do It Easy, having qualified via a smooth clear in the 1.60m track laid by fellow Tipperary man, Alan Wade first time around.
The combination really showed themselves to magnificent effect when the stopwatch was of the essence, with only five duos in all managing to navigate the initial test.
After some amazingly tight turns, Wachman, appropriately for the son of Classic-winning racehorse trainer, David Wachman, and grandson of Coolmore supremo John Magnier, almost rode a finish when asking for maximum effort from the 12-year-old gelding owned by Coolmore Showjumping down the last line and found a ready willing response, as well as a big jump over the last to stop the clock in 32.59.
That took more than a second off the standard said by Kara Chad (CAN) with Igor GPH, who had set the pace with a time of 33.64. The previous night’s FEI World Cup winner, Austria’s Max Kühner finished third, with Greece 5.
Wachman was named FEI Rising Star of 2025 last month after an outstanding year and having been such a key contributor to the Green Jackets in his breakout campaign, the 20-year-old from Goolds Cross will assuredly have created a huge impression on Horse Sport Ireland’s new high performance jumping manager Jessica Kürten, who was looking on.
After listening to Amhrán na bhFiann proudly, as he stood atop the podium flanked by Chad and Kühner
“He’s a brilliant horse and we just thought this class could suit him. He’s been in great form the last couple of weeks so I’m delighted with the way he jumped. Obviously, there’s a big team that goes into it, so it’s great for all of them,” said after Amhrán na bhFiann rang out
“It means a lot to win this. It’s obviously an amazing show here, very prestigious, a historic show. I got a personal invitation from the show, so I’m very grateful to them.”
This result came 24 hours after Wachman’s mentor, Cian O’Connor finished third behind Kühner in the Longines FEI World Cup class.
Once more, only a quintet of combos passed Wade’s first-round test of 14 fences, with some funky stride questions and a tight time allowed taking plenty of casualties.
Among them were O’Connor and his relatively new ride, Chatolinue PS (below). On what was just their second outing together at this level of competition, the pair posted a double clear to record a hugely promising result for a pairing in its nascency, especially as the 12-year-old lost a shoe first time around.
Victory went to the Kühner, with the Pam Walshe-bred EIC Cooley Jump The Q, who was lightning in the jump-off, securing the quickest double clear with a time of 33.94 seconds.
Home hope, Donald Whittaker was runner-up with Millfield Colette, posting a time of 35.52, with O’Connor and Chatolinue next best, stopping the clock on 37.24 as O’Connor shrewdly chose not to over-extend his equine partner at this early stage of their partnership.
“Chatolinue is very special,” said O’Connor. “We’ve only done a few big shows together, so I’m really happy to be here. He jumped so well tonight. I’m very, very satisfied.
“I don’t know him well enough yet. With a new horse, you don’t want to ask too much and maybe surprise him. This was the type of round I was hoping for and we can build on that, especially when we have more space outdoors in the new year. Hopefully, it can keep progressing towards good results at five-star level.
“We’ve got a big target ahead next year with the World Championships and we haven’t done many indoor shows, so I’m really happy with him.”
Elsewhere, there was a fantastic Grand Prix win too for Harry Allen at Sentower Park on Saturday. It was a really convincing one too for the young Wexford athlete and his nine-year-old gelding Guerlain de Kreisker (below), who had 1.98 seconds to spare in the jump-off, clocking 32.26 to take the spoils in the three-star highlight in Belgium.
Nine pairs took part in the deciding round, Michael Duffy and the Irish Sport Horse BP Royalty among them, but they unfortunately had a rail down in a very fast time of 32.52. Daren Hopkins also progressed to the speed examination on another Irish Sport Horse, the seven-year-old PMH Spencer, and they registered a double clear, with a time of 38.67 for fifth.
Allen and his talented nine-year-old got every element right, however, combining the jumping accuracy with coruscating speed, to sail clear.
BREEDING
EIC COOLEY JUMP THE Q (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Jump The Q (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD). Breeder: Pam Walshe, Co Carlow. Owner: MK Sportpferde Max Kühner & Remo Baleri. Rider: Max Kühner (AUT).
PMH SPENCER (ISH) – 2017 bay stallion by Cornet Obolensky (HOLST) out of Epona M (KWPN) by Berlin (HOLST). Breeder: Susan Keaveney, Co Dublin. Owner: Ballywalter Stables. Rider: Daren Hopkins (IRL)
BP ROYALTY (ISH) – 2016 bay gelding by Comme Il Faut (WEST) out of Goodwins Loyalty (ISH) by Obos Quality 004 (OLDBG). Breeder & Owner: Gbbs International, Co Tipperary. Rider: Michael Duffy (IRL)
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