Ireland, 2002

John Bloomer hosted the first Student Riding Nation Cup (SRNC) this spring (22-25.03) at his mom’s stables in Bray, Ireland.
And he did it well. As he stated in the program: he didn’t QUITE know how much work organising such a competition included when he got persuaded during the New Years Bash in Holland.
Friday evening was welcome party of all competitors, supporters and anyone else wanting to join in on the craic. Lots of new faces, they quickly got taught the rules of “Tumbler”, where Paula (GER) had the best “sign”, the dance from the “chicken dance”….WITH sound effects! The evening also included the first Chef d’Equipe meeting, where we drew the order of the first round dressage. Everything was set for a great weekend of sport, excitement and fun. Saturday morning, after the essential breakfast and tea/coffee, it was time to view the presentation of the first round horses. There were no nightmares, all of them seemed schooled and fairly well behaved. This went for all the horses through out the competition, and John was good at thanking the owners that had lent us their rides. Many strong riders through to 2nd round, e.g. Paula (GER) who rides advanced dressage at home, in fact, the entire German team got through. (yes, I know it’s not a big surprise, but well done!) One disappointment though, at least for the girls, Clemens (AUT) did not get through. I think I have most of the females with me when I say that we would have loved to see him ride round after round! After many nice rounds the finalists for Monday were clear: Richard Johnston (GBR) and Kiara Kennedy (IRL 2), which made John declare: the Irish have proven it; we CAN ride dressage! We were joined by Barry(IRL) and his friend (the latter to remain unnamed, and later found doing unmentionable stunts with a certain American girl in the hotel corridor). Barry, did his usual share of connecting nations. All set for dinner at the summer house (which was found after first walking around someone’s garden in pitch darkness, before we finally found the correct route!) Lovely food, “Tumbler, and rounds of table tennis later, we all marched over to “the shed” to party on. Jamie (GBR) was a great DJ, Björn showed us all how to really go for it on the dance floor, (fantastic photos taken!) and David (GER), back on track after his “power-nap” in the summer house, was on a stealth-like mission to take photos of all the students doing their bit (and more?) in creating international relations! Oh and Inner Circle was shamelessly singing Bad to the Bone, which we all loved! Sunday and everyone geared up for Show Jumping. Horses were presented by John, Louise (John’s younger sister) and a few pupils. Again they all looked schooled and fine. We did experience a few refusals and also a couple of falls, luckily no one got injured. Except maybe from the pride to a furious American rider. USA, as usual, impressed with stylish riding, Germany had more than one rider through to 2nd round and Ireland showed that they are to be counted in for the medals at the World Championship in Belgium in October. (5 riders through to the 2nd round!) Mailys (FRA) showed what “a great little jockey” (quote form the sideline) she is, it was fun seeing her guide some of the big horses around the course. Well done! Poppi(GER) is a great party animal, and proved that he’s not “just” full of (hilarious)German expressions and brilliant dancing abilities, but the man can also ride! John was very surprised when his dressage-keen younger brother Gerald qualified for the final. He smirked of him being in the 3rd round, while he claimed that Gerald had never jumped a course that big before……he would be in for some test in the final then! Tiffany (GBR) was the second finalist, after 3 well-ridden rounds. And then there was the gala night in the Glen of the Downs Golf Club! Everybody dressed up and ready for a good night, we enjoyed the food, the drinking games, the dancing(especially Björn swinging John’s mom around on the dance floor) and the socialising. Lots of group photos taken, and apart from one American girl that had had a few too many, most people were in great form when it was time (or way past actually) to get on the bus back to the hotel. Everyone stayed awake while singing along to various songs, “my name is Jack” was song with extreme enthusiasm over and over, Eddie often being the lead singer. Then in the best of student rider style, some of us played endless rounds of “pass-the-ice-cube” in the reception!

Monday and finals. The Show Jumpers were first to go, and while they walked the course, the rest of us had breakfast and “warmed up” with “Bad to the Bone”…….again! ;-) The Army Equitation School had loaned us two of their experienced horses, the long-legged Tullycarrig and the chestnut Togher. Both horses have represented Ireland at international competitions abroad, and were presented by John and Louise. Although John encountered a few problems and Louise complained she had put Togher too deep at every fence, it looked good, and most of all, it looked fun!!! The two finalists were allowed 3 warm up fences each, and the lieutenant that transported the horses put the 2 second jumps up to a respectable height. The track was strong and 1.30m, built for a proper speed class. Both Gerald and Tiffany looked a bit pale before they went in, but had an equal huge smile on their faces when they were finished. Gerald lost his concentration once on Tullycarrig, and took a wrong turn, luckily he remembered in time and rerouted for the correct fence, but had clocked up 3 faults and a long time. Tiffany could afford one fence down when she went in on her last round, which she used up, and made us all go ooohh and aaah. She did however leave it with that, and was the winner of the individual Show Jumping. Well done to both of them! More “Bad to the Bone” and dancing around the side of the dressage arena, while the 2 dressage horses were prepared and presented for the final. Jamie had the show going, he is brilliant, and soooo sweet together with Gudrun (AUT). Gerald showed us what an elegant rider he is, and that the time in Germany had made an impact. Big hand to Kiara who rode two nice and steady tests after being one of the last to leave the ice-cube-game the night before, her smile was huge throughout! Richard had put his kilt on for the occasion, although he had spared (??) us, and put the jods underneath. He pulled off 2 well-ridden tests, we appreciated the Kür the most, as choice of music was entertaining too! The crowd danced to “Bad to the Bone” in between the tests, and cheered the kissing ceremony which lasted almost indecently long!!! The waiting hour between the last test and the price giving, was filled with various relays (beer barrel throwing being one of them) and limbo dancing. Ireland took the 1-2 at the Team SJ, well done to the host nation! The Team Dressage was won by Germany, ahead of GB, and that made the Team Combined 1-2-3; Ireland Germany Ireland 2. The Individual Combined was masterly won by Mailys, ahead of Conor O’Hara and James Reilly (both IRL). The full results can be found on the AIEC web site. As on all student rider competitions there are some more important prices included; The Bagger price, which went to Brena (USA) for the hotel corridor episode, the anti-bagger given to Katie S(GB), the biggest “Plooper (originated from John Bloomer’s fall in Holland)was handed over to Conor for falling off in the warm up! The survivor/party team price went to International 2 (Annika+Elenor(SWE)and Heineken(NOR), in hard contest with Austria. Annika apparently made the final strike for the price when she half sitting, half lying in a chair in the hotel bar after the gala, refusing to go to bed although she could not see nor talk. Good Skills !!! In the evening John had hired a bus to take us all into Dublin City Centre, where we went on a short pub crawl. Poor Alexandre(FRA) had missed his flight, but met up with us, and was staying with me (Heineken, live 15 min away from Dublin Airport) until the next day, along with about 7 or 8 others. After taking over a few bar with brilliant dancing and singing, we moved on to a disco on George Street, which played the songs we requested, which was a great finish for a splendid competition!

Thank you John and John’s mom!