Irish Show Jumping team manager Michael Blake, third from left, with Aga Khan squad members, from left, Max Wachman, Shane Sweetnam, Cian O’Connor, Conor Swail and Jack Ryan, as well as The Underwriting Exchange founder and chairman Stephen O’Connor, right, at the 2022 Dublin Horse Show the RDS in Dublin. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Drought ends as O'Connor helps Ireland claim the Aga Khan Trophy

Jimmy Geoghegan

Published: Fri 19 Aug 2022, 6:12 PM

Last updated: Fri 19 Aug 2022, 6:52 PM

Ireland and Cian O'Connor have won the Aga Khan Trophy for the first time since 2015 after beating France in a dramatic jump-off.

Conor Swail aboard Count Me sealed the victory at the RDS today.

Irish Showjumping team manager Michael Blake had named his four horses and riders yesterday for the Longines FEI Nations Cup event.

O'Connor, who operates out of his Karlswood Stables, in Blackhall Big near Batterstown, was calmness personified on his horse Kilkenny to help his team prevail in the close, tense finish with Swail stepping into the limelight in the jump-off and performing extremely well.

The Irish team included two Irish Sport Horses and a mix of youth and experience, with 19-year-old Max Wachman making his Aga Khan debut alongside the hugely experienced trio of Conor Swail, Shane Sweetmam and Cian O’Connor.

Ireland were drawn second last to jump of the seven teams that competed and line-out was:

Meath’s Cian O’Connor with Kilkenny (ISH) – owned by Susan Magnier

Down’s Conor Swail with Count Me In – owned by Sandy Lupton & Mannon Farm

Tipperary’s Max Wachman with Berlux Z – owned by Coolmore Showjumping

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam with James Kann Cruz (ISH) – owned by Gizmo Partners LLC

RESERVE – Kilkenny’s Jack Ryan with BBS McGregor (ISH) – owned by Marguerite Ryan.

O'Connor and Kilkenny certainly played their part. France completed all their rounds with just four faults and O'Connor and Kilkenny had to do the same. Under intensive pressure they managed to stay calm and focused to go clear and force a jump off. In the jump off Conor Swail put in a strong display to seal the victory for the Irish and end a lenghty drought.

Ireland last won the Aga Khan in 2015 and along with hoping to bridge a seven year gap and lift the famous trophy, Michael Blake and his team were hoping to secure enough league points to make it through to the Longines FEI Nations Cup final which takes place in Barcelona (ESP) at the end of September.

The RDS victory achieved a remarkable double for O'Connor and the Irish showjumping team.

Only last week at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark Michael Blake's Irish selection of Denis Lynch, Bertram Allen, Cian O'Connor and Daniel Coyle gave an outstanding performance to secure one of the five coveted places for the 2004 Olympic Games in Paris.

Ireland finished in fourth place rising five places from overnight ninth to secure the place in the Olympics.

"We are delighted to take an Olympic qualification place at the very first opportunity as it now gives us two full years to prepare for the Games," commented Blake.

Today at the RDS the Irish team once more showed the quality and consistency required to chalk up another remarkable achievement and end a seven-year drought.