Thurles Information

All eyes will be on Co. Tipperary rider Greg Broderick this afternoon as the show jumper makes his Aga Khan debut, at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show in the grounds of the Royal Dublin Society (RDS).

The 29 year old Thurles rider has been selected by manager Robert Splaine onto the Irish team for the Nations Cup, where he will partner with the nine year old MHS ‘Going Global’; a 2006 bay gelding by Quidam Junior I (KWPN) out of Gowran Lady (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST), latter owned by Caledonia Stables in Tipperary, and bred by Ita Brennan in Kilkenny.

Also selected on this team are riders Bertram Allen, Cian O’Connor and Darragh Kenny. This Irish team will be the first of the eight teams competing to take on the course.

Greg has enjoyed numerous previous successes at the RDS Dublin Horse Show over the past few years. Last year (2014) was no exception where he won the 4, 5 & 6 year old Horse Sport Ireland Young Horse classes, and was crowned the Show-jumping Ireland National Champion 2014, having won the overall title of the Horseware/TRM Premier Series again partnering with MHS ‘Going Global’, taking the title Leading Horse.

In July of this year (2015) on a wild card entry, Greg competed in his first ever Global Champions Tour in Cascais, Portugal, with MHS ‘Going Global’. Broderick, aboard Caledonia Stables’ nine year-old Kilkenny-bred gelding, delivered a perfect clear round in his first appearance at the Global Champions Tour event, being placed third on time, behind the Saudi owned ‘Abdullah Alsharbatly’ and winner rider Scott Brash.

Greg and his family currently run a show-jumping performance, training and breeding business at Ballypatrick Stables, The Ragg, near Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

UPDATE 7/8/2015

Congratulations to the Irish team in winning its first Aga Khan Trophy for three years at the Dublin Horse Show at the RDS today. A double clear round from Thurles, Co. Tipperary born Greg Broderick, on his Aga Khan début, firmly anchored the four-man Irish team to ensure a comfortable Irish victory.

Massive congratulations to top athlete Miss Rachel Ryan who was first to cross the finish line, taking a gold medal in the track events at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

Miss Ryan aged 26 and a native of Templemore in Co. Tipperary, who was running in the 400 metres event at Loker Stadium, also posted a personal best time in her race this afternoon in 30 degree heat.

“I’m very happy and excited, I didn’t think I was going to come first, but I guess when you don’t think a thing it ends up happening. So I’m very excited,”  Miss Ryan stated.

Miss Ryan’s Gold, up to time of my writing, now brings to 22 the number of medal’s secured by the Irish Team at this year’s Summer Games.

M/s Ailish Smyth, head athletics coach, stated that she was thrilled with the performance of her athletics contenders.

These 2015 Special Olympics Summer games will continue until August 2nd, with athletes from across Ireland competing in 12 different disciplines.