Charlie Swan back in the winners’ enclosure at Treo Eile Christmas show
Nine-time champion jockey Charlie Swan and his team took top honours at the Horse Racing Ireland Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic.
The team competition, to showcase the very best of Ireland's retrained racehorses, was the highlight of the Treo Eile Christmas show at Emerald Equestrian Centre December 14th last.
Ten teams, all captained by jockeys, took part in the two-round team competition over an 80cm course. However, the ultra-competitive Swan and his team, sponsored by Camas Park & Summerhill Studs, which included his daughter Olivia, Dublin Horse Show’s puissance winner, Commandant Geoff Curran, and his daughter Kiki Curran, were the only team to post a clean sheet in the first round. That penalty free round proved a key advantage, as they jumped another clear round in the fastest time in the finale, to win the HRI perpetual cup.
Three former racehorses, Oscar Encore (Charlie Swan), Briar Hill (Commandant Geoff Curran) and Clonakilty Bay (Olivia Swan) were pivotal in securing the win for the Tipperary jockey and his team-mates.
Each team, captained by a professional jockey, were joined by two show jumping or eventing competitors and a pony rider who each rode a variety of former racehorses over a course of jumps followed by a jump off to decide the winners of the coveted Horse Racing Ireland Perpetual Cup.
John Osborne, HRI’s Equine Welfare & Bloodstock Director, said: “Congratulations to all the human and equine stars who participated in the Treo Eilie Christmas Show. It was a brilliant evening and platform to showcase the versatility of retrained racehorses. Over 50 ex-racehorses competed at the show, demonstrating how adaptable racehorses are across an array of disciplines.”
Treo Eile (Irish for another direction) was founded in 2020 with the aims to assist breeders, owners, and trainers in transitioning both raced and unraced thoroughbreds to a second career. This is achieved through three main pillars:
• Connect: Owners, trainers, and breeders with a network of retainers, professionals and potential new owners who can directly help their horse make the transition to a new career.
• Support: these horses and riders in the next phase with a well-supported event programme aimed directly at the ex-racehorse.
• Promote: the versatility of the thoroughbred in its second career through social media, TV and newspaper articles highlighting their success.
Treo Eile provides information that will provide help and assistance to people who are making decisions about the next step for their thoroughbred, whether it has raced or not. Treo Eile continue to develop a network of professionals who can educate and support those on their retraining journey, along with creating a well-managed and varied event programme to continue to provide opportunities for former racehorses.
HRI Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic teams:
Charlie Swan, Tipperary; Kiki Curran, Meath; Geoff Curran, Meath; Olivia Swan, Tipperary
Rachael Blackmore, Tipperary; Mia De Bromhead, Waterford; Sarah Curry, Wicklow; Lucca Stubington, Antrim
Gary Carroll, Kildare; Timmy Considine, Jo Andrews, Emma Sweeney, all Meath
Rory Cleary, Kildare; Orla Cleary, Kildare, Felicity Ward, Cork; Sarah Gayer, Cork
Jack Kennedy, Kerry; Paddy Finnegan; Seanin Mahon; Amy Parsons, all Meath
Patrick Mullins, Carlow; Ronan Duffy, Kildare; Louise Duffy, Meath; Stephanie McGlynn, Kildare
Robbie Power, Meath; Lucy Kent, Waterford; Jamie Buckley, Meath; Elizabeth 'Esib' Power, Meath
Davy Russell, Cork; Lily Russell, Cork; Joseph Murphy, Down; Rachael O'Callaghan, Westmeath
Katie Walsh, Kildare; Eliza Wardell, Wicklow; Sarah Wardell, Wicklow; Amy Walsh, Cork
Norman Williamson, Meath; Kian 'Tubs' McNally, Armagh; Carla Williamson, Meath; Emma Newsam, Down.