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WBFSH International Young Breeders World Championships Results 2024

One hundred and forty two competitors aged 16-26 years of age, representing twenty studbooks from Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany (ten studbooks), Great Britain, Ireland, Latvia, Sweden and the Netherlands, alongside hosts Denmark gathered at Martofte in Denmark for the WBFSH International Young Breeders World Championships. Stutteri Ask, the largest stallion station for Danish Warmblood jumping horses, provided a fabulous location for the event, within sight of the Dalby Bay and the Kattegat Ocean, a truly remarkable view.

The Championships demand concentration, stamina, consistency, and of course exemplary knowledge and skill in the areas of theory assessment, conformation and athleticism trait appraisal, and not least of all the ability to handle a strange horse and show it effectively to the judges on a triangle format akin to a dressage test in hand. The showmanship skills, control, and ability to encourage the best performance from the horses in the situation are under scrutiny during the in hand phase. The aim of competitors during the trait assessment phases is to match the judge’s scores for the animals as closely as possible. Teams within the age groups of junior (16-20 years of age) and senior (21-26 years of age) must also turnout and present a horse for inspection by the judges, not an official part of the overall championship scores, but in which great pride is taken nevertheless.

Front Row Left to Right Philip Scott, Ben Kavanagh, Sarah Kavanagh, Hazel McInerney, Edward Hennessy, Tiernan Gill

Back Row Left to Right Maria Cairns, Gillian Burke, Colin Doyle, Caoimhe Healy, Wendy Conlon (Teagasc)

The team representing the Irish Sport Horse Studbook put in a tremendous performance over three days of assessments. Seniors Gillian Burke (Co. Waterford), Maria Cairns (Co. Wexford), Colin Doyle (Co. Westmeath), and Edward Hennessy (Co. Cork), along with juniors Caoimhe Healy (Co. Dublin), siblings Ben and Sarah Kavanagh (Co. Wexford) and Hazel McInerney (Co. Clare) finished in overall seventh position with their scores combined for all disciplines as a studbook team, a mere 14 points of a difference from the podium positions. The World Champions and Reserve Champions are teams Sachsen Thuringen from Germany and hosts Danish Warmblood team with Swedish Warmblood taking bronze position.

The Irish senior team finished in seventh position within their age group, only 11.27 points from the podium while the junior team finished in ninth position, 22 points from the podium finishers. German teams from Rheinland, Sachsen Thringen and Brandenburg Anhalt monopolised the senior teams podium. The junior teams podium was filled by Danish Warmblood, Sachsen Thuringen and Swedish Warmblood.

Maria Cairns earned ninth position individually on 291 points within the senior age class behind Dominic Wohlers MECK Germany on 298.67 points. Chiara Celine Koert RHEIN Germany on 297.33 points and Fabienne Drselen RHEIN Germany also on 297.33 points. Ben Kavanagh the youngest team member was the highest place Irish junior finishing in 15th place in this age class on 286 points behind Hilma Alden SWB Sweden on 300.17 points, Astrid Ostergaard Sorens DWB Denmark on 296.17 points and Anne-Sofie Wowk Jensen DWB Denmark on 296 points.

With an almost clean sheet, with only one question incorrect across the full team, they were off to an exceptionally good start.

In the discipline of conformation assessment, the senior competition was tightly fought with Maria Cairns finishing in 17th position on a score of 83.5 out of 100, while the podium welcomed Dominic Wohlers MECK Germany on 87.50 points, Merlin Campe HANN Germany, Daan Dirk Braat KWPN The Netherlands and Jette Odile Fischer HANN on 86.50 points (Joint 2nd). Other ISH team members finished on 79 points Gillian Burke, 78 points Edward Hennessy and 75 points Colin Doyle. Juniors put in an exemplary performance in the conformation phase with Hazel McInerney placing in fourth position on 87 points behind joint first Robin Alexiane SF France, Lea Kurz TRAK Germany, and Birte Reimers HOLS Germany all finishing on 88 points. Ben Kavanagh completed on 82 points, Sarah Kavanagh on 78.50 points and Caoimhe Healy on 75 points.

 

Hazel McInerney placed 4th Junior Conformation Assessment (front row l to right first)

Athleticism assessment proved happy hunting ground also for juniors with Sarah Kavanagh achieving 83 points out of 100 in fourth place behind Eliesbeth Erica Corine Adrienne KWPN, Julie Van de Voorde BWP Belgium both on 85.5 points and Astrid Ostergaard Sorensen DWB on 84 points. Other Irish team mates finished in close succession with Caoimhe Healy on 77 points, Ben Kavanagh on 74 points while Hazel lucked out on 65 points in this phase. Seniors athleticism assessment was successful for Vera Bos CWHBA Canada and Lucie Le Roux SF France on 84 points and Diana Hartmann BA-WUE Germany on 83 points. Edward Hennessy followed on 78 points, Gillian Burke and Colin Doyle both on 75.5 points. With five horses under scrutiny, the challenge to match the judge’s scores was hard fought.

 

Sarah Kavanagh placed 4th Junior Athleticism Assessment (front row left to right first)

The In Hand phase for seniors was where the magic happened with Maria Cairns finishing in third place on a score of 102 out of 120 behind Chiara Celine RHEIN Germany on 106 points and Klara Herschmann SA-THU Germany on 104 points. Edward Hennessy close on Maria’s heels finished on 99 points in 9th place, while Colin Dolye finished on 97 points in 18th place, and Gillian Burke on 89 points no reflection of her horse handling abilities having coped superbly with a difficult mare and made the best of the circumstances. Judging of the junior in hand phase was not very forgiving, with some particularly challenging horses provided to manage.  Judges seemed to lean towards awarding perfection in the delivery with easier horses to handle over appreciation for management of more difficult horses. That said, Maya Hammarstrom SWB Sweden was victorious on 103 points, Nina Grom BAVAR Germany along with Juliette Lindhard SF France and Lena Teresa SA-THU Germany who placed second on 102 points. Ben Kavanagh followed on 96 points in 17th place, Sarah Kavanagh was harshly marked finishing on 89 points considered not reflective of the display given, while Caoimhe Healy and Hazel McInerney each finished on scores of 88 both having coped with difficult and very fresh horses who they managed exceptionally capably.

Maria Cairns placed 9th individually in the senior age category (third from right front row)

Maria Cairns “thanks to all the trainers for their dedication over the past few months. Having competed also in 2022 it was another indescribably brilliant experience. I take great pride in the performance and work put in by each member of the team to achieve this result. My own in hand podium finish would not have happened without the expert input of assistant handler Colin Doyle, which also had a very significant contribution to my overall 9th place finish. Every result is accomplished by team members giving their best efforts for each other. We also have some amazing memories and expanded our network of friends along the way.”

 

Maria Cairns placed 3rd individually and Edward Hennessy 9th Senior In Hand Presentation (front row l to r sixth)

Edward Hennessy "The World Championships was an amazing experience with such a great team, and a feeling of team spirit. We learned so much from both the professionals who guided us, and from our peers. Thank you to all the trainers, organisers, horse owners, and all who made it possible to represent the ISH studbook at the Championships."

Hazel McInerney “it was a fantastic experience to represent the ISH Studbook at the Championships. Such an incredible opportunity to meet others from all over the world who are interested in breeding and producing horses. I have gained invaluable knowledge and experience which I hope to put into practice over the coming years. The coaches and all involved have been so helpful and supportive throughout and I am so grateful to have been part of such an amazing team of people.”

Sarah Kavanagh “I feel so privileged to have had this opportunity. The greatest reward from the competition was meeting so many like-minded people from around the world and nationally here at home during the team selection period.”

Ben Kavanagh "I really appreciate the knowledge and advice which has ben passed on to me by our coaches and the many others we have met during our preparations for the World Championships. It's not about the grades you make, it is about the hands you shake. The contacts and friends we made are the real building blocks to even more success in future."

Every single team member should be superbly proud of their performances, particularly in the in hand phase, as some of the horses provided were not simple to manage. All rose to the challenge and demonstrated their capacity to perform under pressure.

Thanks is extended to all who have supported the preparations of the Irish Sport Horse studbook team from trainers, farms, sponsors, and indeed the parents and others who have supported the team behind the scenes. The list is too extensive to mention everyone, but those who have been extensively involved are Teagasc Equine Specialists, Tiernan Gill, Andrew Hughes, Philip Scott, Derryglen Stud, Hughes Horse Stud, Kilconnell Stud, and Lissyegan Stables, Horse Sport Ireland’s Antonette Doran, and gratefully received funding / sponsorship from Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine and The Equine Warehouse.

Full results are available at https://www.wbfsh.com/iyb/championship-results

Additional press releases:

Read more on the Teagasc website

Read more on the Horse Sport Ireland website

World Championships 2024 Selection Process

National Championships 2024, Kildalton Agricultural College

The first step in the selection process for team participation at World Championships is at the National Championships. Here all elements are adjudicated - theory, conformation and athleticism assessment, and in hand presentation skills. Following the Championships approximately 20 individuals are identified to continue training over the weeks following.

Young Breeders pictured at National Championships, Kildalton Agricultural College, March 2024

Young Breeders National Championships took place on March 23rd 2024. Read more here

Focus: Theory, Assessing Conformation and Athleticism Traits, and In Hand Presentation - includes pre-selection for 2024 World Championship team selection

Terms and Conditions 2024 Young Breeder National Championships

World Championship Team Selection Process Following National Championships

The team selection process in 2024 involved three days of intense training akin to a National Championships with all disciplines again adjudicated on. The farms hosting these training days are vital to the success of the process. In 2024 Kilconnell Stud, Derryglen Stud and Hughes Horse Stud opened their gates to the young breeders. We are most grateful !

The process culminates with the eight individual team members named to represent the Irish Sport Horse Studbook at the 2024 WBFSH International Young Breeder World Championships. 

Left to right Gillian Burke, Eimear Coleman, Michelle Dunne, Maria Cairns, Aimee Walsh, Sarah Kavanagh, Ella Tighe, Edward Hennessy, Caoimhe Healy, Lydia McGrath, Robert Deegan, Emer O Donnell, Luke McAvinue, Lilian Lynch, Ben Kavanagh, Katie O'Donnell, Hazel McInerney, Ciara Hanley, Conor Fitzpatrick, Katie Peate, and absent from pic Colin Doyle

World Championships: July 4-6 2024

Further information at www.wbfsh.com/iyb/championships