| COOLCORRON NEWS | |
|
Clarion Hotel's Coolcorron Cool Diamond's (ex Coolcorron Cool Diamond) progeny excelled at Stradbally Hall One-Day Event last Sunday, April 19th. Cathal Murphy riding Mary Murphy's 5 year old Diamond Liath won the Training B. While Maura Meade's Mister Cool ridden by Michael Meade claimed 1st prize in the Junior C. Splaine Takes Honours at Clare Irish team manager Robert Splaine was the victor at today's (Sunday) Boswell Equestrian Grand Prix at Ennis, Co. Clare, with his own 'Clarion Hotels Coolcorron Cool Diamond'. Jumping a double clear with the stallion, the Cork rider said afterwards: "It was a very tight course, and the fact that only six got through from 17 starters is an indication of its difficulty." "However," he joked, "I never thought I'd get in front of Fra Connors again, so I am really delighted with this win here today." With perfect ground conditions after yesterday's rain, a large crowd at Ennis saw an Army rider once again take the runner-up spot in the Grand Prix, with Capt. Shane Carey piloting 'African Drum'. Francis Connors placed 'Merlin's Magic' in third with a double clear, but racked up an uncharacteristic 12 faults with his other horse 'Auto Cruz', to finish fifth in the jump-off. Tholm Keane improved on his Boswell Equestrian league points with a fourth today on 'Warrenstown You 2', while Jonathan Corrigan and 'Market Force' had a perfect second round up to the second-last fence, where a fall eliminated the combination. Neither rider nor horse was seriously hurt, however. Today's result consolidates Francis Connors's Grand Prix league pole position, with a total of 62 points, while Tholm Keane climbs back into second place with 45 points. Thursday sees the next leg of the Boswell league at Bannow and Rathangan. SHOW JUMPING RESULT - BOSWELL EQUESTRIAN NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE RESULT: Co. Clare 1m40 Grand Prix 1) Clarion Hotels Coolcorron Cool Diamond (Owner - Robert Splaine): Robert Splaine Faults 0/0 40.09 17 starters, six through to jump-off BOSWELL EQUESTRIAN NATIONAL GRAND PRIX LEAGUE 1) Francis Connors 62 Robert Splaine Announced as New Irish Team Manager
The 52 year-old Corkman finalised his contract arrangements with the sport's National Governing Body, the Equestrian Federation of Ireland earlier this year. The 'driving around Europe' euphemism does not fully reveal Splaine's real activity, which is competing with his horses at events around Europe. "I believe there is nothing to equal seeing the courses for yourself, and nothing to beat actually jumping them, " Splaine says. " The sport is changing all the time, and there are new types of courses, new types of fences. You really have to work hard to keep up with what's happening on the ground.” Competing at the Spanish Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera in February has also given the Team Manager a close-up view of the riders and horses who may be in contention for a place on the senior teams during year. "There were quite a few Irish riders at the Sunshine Tour,” Splaine says, "and some of them certainly would be longlisted for the five-star Samsung Super League or for the four-star Nations Cup League. I was able to watch both riders and mounts very closely, and on many occasions compete with them on the same courses. " Ireland last year stayed in the elite Samsung Super League - the premier international team competition - but struggled at times to avoid relegation. Only the world's eight best national teams can take part in the Super League, and each year the worst-performing team is relegated to the 'ordinary' Nations Cup League. Robert Splaine's job as Team Manager would cover both leagues, for Ireland still fields teams for the non-Super League competitions. In those competitions, riders and horses have an opportunity to show their mettle, and perhaps catch the Team Manager's eye as potential Super League combatants. Splaine has experience as a competitor at both levels, and is still an individual force to be reckoned with on the international circuit. A farmer's son from Belgooly in Co. Cork, he spent his youth competing in the Munster region at national level show jumping, but by the age of 23 had secured the ride on the famous 'Carrigroe' and after a sparkling 1977 season was selected the following year for the Irish team competing at the World Championships at Aachen, Germany, where he rode alongside Gerry Mullins, Eddie Macken, and Paul Darragh. Splaine next hit the headlines with a horse called 'Big Ed', but after his mount's untimely death from colic, the Cork rider re-appeared with the famous 'Heather Blaze', a mare that, in his own words, took him "all over the world”, racking up many trophies and titles, and culminating in the superb 1995 victory at Hickstead in England, where Robert Splaine became the first Irishman in 35 years to win the King George V Gold Cup. But a few years later 'Heather Blaze' took a bad fall at the Dublin Horse Show during the Aga Khan competition, broke a forearm, and had to be put down. Splaine is acutely aware of the balance between horse and rider at the top end of international competition. He says: "It is a very strenuous sport at that level, and a top class rider can see his career halted by the loss of a talented horse, either by injury or fatality. Even the best riders in the world cannot stay at the pinnacle of the sport if they do not have a suitable horse under them. I always say that a good horse can make a good rider even better, but even the best riders can usually do very little to improve a sub-standard horse. "It is what makes this sport so different. There are always two elements involved, and both must be at the top of their game, and at the same time.” After the demise of Heather Blaze, Splaine concentrated on coaching, and on buying and selling horses, until the arrival of the superb stallion 'Coolcorron Cool Diamond' (now known as 'Clarion Hotels Coolcorron Cool Diamond'), a mount that brought him back into the top Irish teams in 2003. Splaine and 'Clarion Hotel's Coolcorron Cool Diamond' blazed a spectacular trail through Europe that year, helping Ireland win the Super League Nations Cup at Aachen, among other competitions, and they also secured the Cup at St. Gallen in Switzerland when, after a tie for first place, Splaine was chosen to take part in the jump-off against Switzerland's Markus Fuchs, and won. Splaine and 'Clarion Hotel's Coolcorron Cool Diamond' also helped Ireland qualify for the 2004 Olympics at the team event in the European Championships in Donaueschingen, Germany, but an injury sustained by the stallion during that event meant that the combination, though shortlisted for Athens, had to withdraw. But the horse is now back on the road, and winning again with other horses on a European campaign, when Robert can take time out from his hectic schedule. His vast experience both as a competitor and a chef d'equipe have provided Robert Splaine with an unrivalled insight into the strategies required for success. He says: " We must plan ahead not just to the Samsung Super League and the World Championships this year, but also put in place long-term goals that will include the next Olympics. We have as good a pool of riders as any country, but like many countries we have a lack of top horses. "Availability of horses has always been a problem, but I believe we must have structures that will allow us as a nation to prepare for the long-term goals. I think the Team Manager must work closely with not only the riders, but the trainers and owners as well, so that we may all focus on what's ahead, and make the necessary preparations for World Championships and Olympic Games. "There has to be overall co-operation in this area, and the plan that we put in place must include the ongoing assessment of riders and horses, and the training and the protection of the horses with the ability to compete in these major championships. We must start thinking long-distance, and not just as far as the next Nations Cup. "I'm very much aware that Irish show jumping has been through some problems, and it has saddened me, but I feel that I can contribute some stability to the situation and with co-operation we can bring this thing together. That is my hope. " European Tour News
First to go, from a fifty six horse start list, he produced a superb clear round followed by only two others. Again, he was first to go in the jump off. Clarion Hotel's Coolcorron Cool Diamond jumped without fault to the last fence after which the bell sounded elimination. Robert had omitted two fences on the jump-off track. Robert, when questioned about the grand prix, said: "I am extremely annoyed with myself for such a silly mistake as we got everything else spot on. It was my ambition coming to the Sunshine Tour to get the stallion fit and only concentrate on this class. Clarion Hotel's Coolcorron Cool Diamond was amazing today. It gives me great confidence facing a new championship year.” Cool Diamond Returns Coolcorron Cool Diamond made his long awaited com back to competition at the Norwegian world cup show in Oslo last weekend. Over twelve months ago he sustained an injury at the European Championships in Germany which kept him out of action. Unfortunately this injury prevented him from competing at the Olympic Games. Coolcorron Cool Diamond came back in style after jumping a double clear in Sundays world cup qualifier. He earned valuable points in the first leg of the world cup series, showing the same tremendous form taht made hime one of the top horses in 2003. Robert expressed delight with the result after such a lay-off. "The stallion is as good as ever," he said, "we're looking forward to a good winter campaign and gaining as many world cup points as possible." Coolcorron Cool Diamond will compete at the Finnish world cup in Helsinki this weekend. Olympics in sight for award winners
A fortnight later, Splaine won the prestigious Grand Prix at St Gallen in Switzerland with the stallion, before ensuring victory for Ireland in the Nations Cup after winning a breathtaking head-to-head jump-off with Swiss team member Markus Fuchs. Then, at Aachen a few weeks later, another fine performance from Splaine and Coolcorron Cool Diamond assisted Ireland to team honors in the Nations Cup ending a seven-year drought at the German venue. Splaine was only recently announced as one of five riders short-listed for the Olympic Games. Coolcorron Cool Diamond
He started off the Samsung Superleague Nations Cup Series in the French Nations Cup at La Baule with an outstanding double clear, only one of three in the entire competition, and was placed 4th in the Grand Prix. This was just a taste of what was to follow......... Winner of the Grand prix of Switzerland at St. Gallen and two days later he took the Cup from the home side in the first ever Superleague head to head with Markus Fuchs and Tinka's Boy. Next, Coolcorron Cool Diamond fitter and beter than ever, shone in one of the world's toughest showjumping challenges in Aachen, Germany delivering a second round clear to contribute to Ireland's first victory in sixteen years. Coolcorron Cool Diamond's brilliant effort at the European Championships in Germany, helped secure Olympic qualification for Ireland in Athens 2004. Importantly, Ireland was ahead of both Great Britain and Italy, the vital position needed to qualify. The stallion's next appearance for Ireland will be at the Samsung Superleague final in Barcelona, Spain 18-21 September. A training and competition programme will then be drawn up in preparation for the Olympic Games 2004. Irish Aces Do It Again!
In a thrilling clash in which the result was only decided by the final rider into the ring the boys in green held firm to pip a much-improved Belgian squad for the honours, while the league leaders from France had to settle for fifth spot this time. Robert Splaine and his Irish Sport Horse stallion, Coolcorron Cool Diamond, led the way in round 2 with an excellent clear and when Billy Twomey also left the course intact the Irish were adding just four more faults picked up by Peter Charles at the final element of the combination which was the last fence on the course. Final Irish runner, Kevin Babington, hit the oxer at fence six and added a time fault so now the Irish tally was finalised at 11 faults but they were already ahead of the French who slipped further down the order when Michel Robert returned from his second effort with another five to add to the French total. Now only the Belgians could stop the Irish from following up their victory in St Gallen with yet another success and, last into the ring, Ludo Philippaerts and Parco looked like they were going to do just that until hitting the final element of the tricky treble which proved the bogey of the afternoon, and also falling foul of the very tight time limit. The Irish now however look like the ones to beat. The thing that has always given them that extra edge is their ability to pull together when the pressure is on, and as Robert Splaine said today "this was a real gutsy performance -one of the most solid team efforts I have ever had the pleasure of being involved in. Everybody was helping everyone else and the competition was well-analysed, well thought out and well executed". Coolcorron Cool Diamond Wins Grand Prix of Switzerland
Nine Nations lined up for the third round of the Samsung Nations Cup Superleague last Sunday (1st June 2003) in St. Gallen. After a fierce battle Switzerland and Ireland emerged on equal score after the second round. Under new Superleague rules, each Nation must nominate one rider to go into an instant 'head to head' jump-off. Switzerland put forward World Cup Champion, Marcus Fuchs and Tinkas Boy while Ireland selected Robert Splaine with his St. Gallen Grand Prix winner Coolcorron Cool Diamond. Fuchs started first to take on Paul Weier's massive seven fence jump-off course. 8 faults on the scoreboard set the target for Splaine. What followed, was an outstanding faultless display by Coolcorron Cool Diamond, which lifted the Cup for Ireland for the first time in sixty four years. Splaine's perseverance pays a handsome dividend
Breeders these days demand that the stallions they support should have strong performance credentials. The lessons of the continental drive for dominance have finally been learned in this country. Unfortunately we have been unable to produce native born breeding stallions which can tackle the Europeans head on. One of the most salutary lessons imparted by the continental studbooks was the success of the French international jumping team at the world equestrian games in Jerez when four breeding stallions carried off team gold. It says a lot for the strength of the French breeding industry that they could field a team so expressive of their capability. Unfortunately we do not have four stallions that could compete at that level. Coolcorron Cool Diamond has just completed a successful Sunshine Tour, following on from his placing in the World Cup at Vigo. On the Sunshine Tour he won two classes and was placed five times in eight competitions, proving that Irish traditional breeding can still cut out a place for itself on the international scene. Splaine has actively campaigned his stallion for a good few years now. His most recent major achievements include the Grand Prix wins at Millstreet in November 1999, Windsor in May 2000 and third and second placings at Deauville, Barcelona, New York and Genova. In addition he competed on four winning Nation Cup Team up to the end of 2002 at Lummen, Rotterdam, Washington and Toronto. In previous years there were many other appearances for Ireland in Nation Cup competitions. In 2000 Coolcorron Cool Diamond was the only Irish stallion to compete in the Samsung Nations Cup series participating in the remarkable drive which gave Ireland victory in a record 10 competitions. Splaine has built an international reputation with this horse, this is clearly one of the country's leading international combinations. The stallion is in with a chance no matter where he goes. The Irish Horse industry owes a lot to Robert Splaine. He has been a great ambassador with his constant campaigning at world-class venues. It is perhaps a reflexion on the overall performance status of the Irish horse industry that breeders are offered so few stallions which have an international reputation. Robert Splaine has persevered with Coolcorron Cool Diamond and has reaped the rewards on the jumping scene. Now he is turning his attention to the breeding sector, offering mare owners an opportunity to support a stallion which has proved itself in open competition and is a current winning performer. Quite a few breeders have already seen the potential of this horse. He will have five year olds out on the circuit this year. Demand has been building up and the prices achieved by his foals are an indication of the value which buyers from both at home and overseas place on the progeny of a true performance stallion. At Goresbridge last October one foal out of a Cavalier mare made €5,000 while another out of a Master Imp mare was knocked down at €8,700. That these foals were bred from mares carrying some of the most important performance bloodlines available in Ireland is an indication of the fact that owners with good mares are prepared to go to Coolcorron Cool Diamond on the basis that they are getting a stallion which has a performance reputation as good as that they are getting a stallion which influenced the choice of sire of their mares. The Cork stallion is now approved with the Selle Français studbook and his semen is in demand by continental breeders. The pedigree is very traditional in Irish terms. As his name suggests Coolcorron Cool Diamond is descended from King of Diamonds . He is a son of Glidawn Diamond by the King of Diamonds out of an ISH mare Bonmahom Belle by Bronti. Bred by Francis Fitzgerald of Co. Waterford, Coolcorron Cool Diamond carries Nordlys in his backbreeding, giving him a recognizably strong performance tradition on both sire and dam lines. Bronti stood with Martin Kiely of Thurles. He was a long lived stallion and one of the older generations called half-bred stallions, although they had strong thoroughbred pedigrees. Bronti was a son of Shining Crown out of the Nordlys mare by the Nordlys mare Grawn Nancy. Bonmahon Belle was a daughter of an unnamed Irish Draught mare by the thoroughbred Cassanant. Cassanant' s dam was a draught of Nasrullah and granddaughter of Blue Peter on the dam side. The mix of important thoroughbred and Irish Draught pedigrees in his make-up is a formula which creates performance in Irish horses. At a time when Irish breeding has taken many hard knocks - the studbook now ranks only seventh in the World Breeding Federation listing for show jumping as against the days when King Of Diamonds set the home and international scene on fire and the studbook was ranked second or third - it is good to see that there is at least one breeding stallion that can compete successfully and consistently on the international circuit. If performance and proven ability in open competition means anything at all, then Coolcorron Cool Diamond has to be a sire worth supporting, particularly by breeders who have a good types of mares. | |
| More News Archives | |
Double Win for Progeny
Robert Splaine is the new Team Manager for the Irish senior show jumping squad, but up until recently he was spending most of his time driving around Europe.
Clarion Hotel's Coolcorron Cool Diamond (ex Coolcorron Cool Diamond) finished 3rd in the Sunshine Tour's most prestigeous class, The Invitational Grand Prix, at Vejer de la Frontera in Spain last Sunday.
ROBERT SPLAINE's brilliant achievements last year with Coolcorron Cool Diamond have earned him The Irish Field Award 2003. As a team member for the Nations Cup at La Baule, France in May, Splaine jumped one of only three clear rounds in the entire competition to assist Ireland to eventual fourth place.
Coolcorron Cool Diamond's superb performances and consistancy throughtout the year has shot him up in to the Top 10 in the world stallion rankings and still maintains his position as the No.1 Irish Sport Horse Stallion in the world.
The Irish put in another stunning performance to record their second Samsung Super League victory and their third Nations Cup win in a row when topping the line-up at Aachen last Friday.
Coolcorron Cool Diamond reinforced his world class reputation yesterday in St. Gallen by winning the Grand Prix at the Samsung Nations Cup Superleague fixture. A massive track, designed by Germany's Paul Weir, demanded scope, carefulness and precision. Coolcorron Cool Diamond demonstrated his incredible tallent to give an outstanding performance, jumping a double clear to take the Grand Prix of Switzerland.
Consistency has been the hallmark of Robert Splaine' s stallion Coolcorron Cool Diamond throughout the course of his international career on the show jumping circuit. The 14 year old is now the top Irish Sport Horse stallion in the World breeding Federation rankings. There are, of course, not too many of the 70 or so approved ISH stallions which are capable of campaigning on the International circuit, a fact which indicates just how important Coolcorron Cool Diamond has become as a national flag waver for the Irish breeding industry.
