Consistency was the name of the game for riders looking to retain their national showjumping titles. 2018 saw three riders successfully retake their crowns – Sven Hadley, Liam O’Meara and Greg Broderick.

Connolly's Redmills spring tour

Galway rider Sven Hadley took the title for the second consecutive year. Hadley recorded three wins and was placed in five other rounds, to finish on 49 points, 19 ahead of his closest rival.

Hadley partnered Sumas Taloubet and Quanbell in the tour, both of which were instrumental in his victory. Having been placed in previous rounds Hadley secured his first with Sumas Taloubet in Cavan which gave him a clear advantage. Bred by Suma’s Stud, Sumas Taloubet is a 13-year-old by Taloubet Vdl out of the Pride of Shaunlara (ID) sired mare, It’s An Ology.

Hadley recorded a host of wins on the national and international circuit. He won two classes in Mullingar CSI2* with Victoria Z, two with Ganorad in Roeser CSI2* and three in Millstreet CSI2* with VVood Stock De Breve.

Situated in Craughwell, Hadley Sport Horses is run by Sven, his mother Gill and his partner Tori Dunn. Along with running a horse transport business, they have also started to breed from their foundation mares.

The mares include, Adelgonde Z, Tosca, Utha, Cassana, Carla, Couvers Chip, Fine Feeling. All their foundation mares have been successful up to 1.40m. Adelgonde Z and Carla both competed and were placed at 1.50m, while Utha and Casanna have both competed and have been placed at 1.40m level.

Another brood mare, Tosca, was injured in an accident which ended her jumping career. However, she is by Nimmedor and boasts an impressive breeding line. Fine Feeling, by For Pleasure, was purchased in 2016 and has also been added to the breeding program.

Offspring in the stable include a four-year-old by Amerata Darco, three-year-olds by Plot Blue Agnaix Dirado, two-year-old’s by OBOS Quality and Diamate De Semily, yearlings by Royal Concord, Je T’aime Flamenco, Elvis Ter Putt. They also have foals by Mr. Lincoln B, Aganix, Cobra 18, Future Trend and Romaovo.

SJI National Grand Prix League

Tipperary’s Liam O’Meara took the SJI National Grand Prix title for the second year running. O’Meara dominated the league, he recorded five wins and was placed in 14 rounds. Not content with winning the league with Mr Coolcaum (ISH), O’Meara also filled the runner-up spot with Curraighgraigue Jack Take Flight. O’Meara gained such an advantage early on that he secured the league before the final round.

Bred by Kevin Farragher, Mr Coolcaum is 14-year-old gelding by Coolcaum Hill and out of Ranch Lady (Indian Ruler). Produced by O’Meara, the gelding has been consistent at Grand Prix over the last three years.

Bred by Baden Powell, Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight is a 10-year-old by Jacomar and out of Curraghraigue Errigal (Errigal Flight). Besides O’Meara top level horses, he also has some horse coming up the ranks to watch for next year.

Russel Style is an eight-year-old gelding by Russel and out Cruisings Carol (Harlequin Du Carel). This gelding has already shown his talent, jumping double clear in the 1.50m New Heights Champions Series, finishing fourth at the New Heights Champion Series at Ballinasloe and numerous Grand Prix placings. He qualified for Dublin Horse Show in the aged classes and has been consistently placed in the Studbook series.

Another one to watch out for is the six-year-old mare Could be Anything. Bred by Michael Ryan, she is by Olympic Lux and out of Glenaguile Rose (Harlequin du Carel). Like Hadley O’Meara is planning for the future and breeding from well-established mares.

One such mare is Glenaguile Flight (Errigal Flight out of the Ballinvella mare, Belfield Lady) who has jumped up to 1.35m. O’Meara has crossed Glenaguile Flight with Boherdeal Clover.

He has a resident stallion Big Dan Du Rouet, by Querlbet Hero out of a Harlequin Du Carel sired dam, Glenaguile Rose. Big Dan Du Rouet is a half-sister to Could be Anything and has covered over 20 of O’Meara’s mares. The stallion is rising four will be one to watch in the young horse classes in 2019.

TRM HSI New Heights Champion Series

Greg Broderick claimed the TRM HSI New Heights Champion Series for another year. Broderick, who combines international shows and training students, strategically plans his national calendar to take in this series. He took home a very lucrative prize fund and secured a place in the international classes in Dublin Horse Show and the National Champion title.

Broderick began the year by winning the rounds in the Meadows and Portmore. He secured the title, when he finished third in the final at the Irish Breeders Classic with Duco. Owned by Mary Ellen De Ruschi, Duco (KWPN 2010) is a gelding by Vigaro out of Upperlaine.

Duco made his appearance on the National circuit with Darragh Ryan in Warrington and before this, he was campaigned by Broderick in Vejer de la Frontera CSI4* in March 2018. Duco was previously campaigned by Shane Breen and Michael Duffy.

Broderick is based in Ballypatrick stables which once was a family farm. In total the property spans over 480-acres just outside Thurles.

The farm, along with producing showjumpers is also home to cattle for grazing. The main focus is now on the equine business. It is home to 70 broodmares with a further 250 horses, from foals and youngstock right through to international performers.

The original 70-acre farm, along with the homestead, has been in the Broderick family for five generations with Patrick Broderick (snr) purchasing the land initially. Dairy herd and cattle were farmed, with Patrick’s son Martin having the original interest in horses alongside farming.

Greg’s Grandfather Paddy was next to take over, but was only when Greg’s father Austin took over in 1968 that horses became a part of the farm. Austin held a point to point license and had great success. His most notable winner being Saracen in the ladies Derby at the Curragh.

Greg took over from Austin in 2007 and held the point to point license, but his passion was never the racing. His focus is on show jumping, and the breeding and production of sports horses at the highest level. Ballypatrick has always prided itself on the place to breed, produce and compete horses of all ages. A unique aspect of Ballypatrick is that horses are born, bred, broken and produced from young horses right up to International level here. In recent years, the Broderick’s have also attracted foreign owners and students.