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Ireland's Gallant Flag Waver
Consistency has been the hallmark of this combination throughout their international showjumping career. The fourteen years old Irish Sport Horse stallion is now the top Irish Sport horse stallion in the World Breeding rankings. There are, of course, not too many amongst the seventy or so approved ISH stallions which are capable of campaigning on the international circuit, but Coolcorrron's successes indicate just how powerful traditional breeding can become in the right hands. Before La Baule Coolcorron Cool Diamond had completed a successful Sunshine Tour, following on his placing in the World Cup qualifier 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. Robert Splaine has actively campaigned this stallion for a good few years. His major achievements include Grand prix wins at Milstreet in November 1999, Windsor in May 2000, and third and second placings at Deauville, Barcelona, New York and Genova. He won a car as the best Horse/Rider combination at Genova. In addition he competed with five winning Nations Cups teams up to the end of 2002. These were Lummen, Rotterdam, Washington and Toronto. In previous years there were many other appearances for Ireland in Nations Cups competitions. In 2000 he 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 ten competitions. Now in 2003 he has maintained his outstanding Nations Cup performances. Cork man Splaine has built up an international reputation with this horse and although he has been passed over for Nations Cup team participation on occasions this is clearly one of Ireland's leading international combinations. The stallion is in with a chance no matter where he goes and Splaine's problem will be to find a top class replacement when the times comes. The Irish horse industry owes a lot to Robert Splaine. he has been a great ambassador with his constant campaigning at world class venues. One of the few Irish stallions which have competed internationally ,it is probably fair to say that only superstar Cruising has outshone him in terms of international success and acclaim. It is perhaps a reflection of the overall performance status of the Irish horse industry that breeders are offered so few stallions which have an international performance reputation. Robert Splaine persevered with Coolcorron Cool Diamond and has reaped the rewards on the jumping scene. Now he is turning his attention to the breeding sector offer mare owners an opportunity to support a stallion which has proved himself in open competition. Quite a few breeders have already seen the potential of this horse. He will have five year olds on the national circuit this year. Demand for his progeny 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. Mares carrying some of the country's most important bloodlines have gone to Coolcorron on the basis that they are getting a stallion which has a performance reputation as good as that which originally influenced their choice of foundation pedigree. The stallion is now approved by the Selle Français studbook and his semen is in demand by Continental breeders. The pedigree is very traditional in Irish terms. As his name implies Coolcorron Cool Diamond is descended from King of Diamonds - his grandson by Glidawn Diamond - out of an ISH mare Bonmahon Belle by Bronti. This ISH stallion carries the important thoroughbred Nordlys in his backbreeding giving Coolcorron Cool Diamond a strong performance tradition on both his sire and dam sides. The mix of important thoroughbred and Irish Draught pedigrees in his make up is the formula which creates performance in Irish horses. At a time when Irish breeding has taken many knocks - the studbook ranks only seventh in the World Breeding Federation listing for showjumping as against the days when King of Diamonds set the home and international scene on fire and the studbook was ranked second and third - it is good to see that there is at least one breeding stallion which 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 watching, and for breeders, worth supporting. Coolcorron Cool Diamond - A Great Finish Coolcorron Cool Diamond concluded a magnificent Sunshine Tour with a 6th Place, from 53 starters, in the €120,000 Grand Prix yesterday. Having competed in 8 events over three weeks, Coolcorron Cool Diamond won two classes and was placed five times. He finished up the tour being the Most Consistent Horse in the 'Big Tour' section. After a strenuous winter's international campaign based overseas, he is now on the road back to Ireland for a well deserved rest and to attend to a full book of mares. He will be back competing as soon as his stud obligations have been filled. WATCH THIS SPACE............!! More Success For Coolcorron Cool Diamond Keeping up the superb form of 2003 which saw Coolcorron Cool Diamond placed 10th in the World Cup at Vigo in Spain last weekend, Bobbu (as he is known in the stable) won Saturday's main class at the Sunshine Tour in Vejer De La Frontera, Southern Spain. From a field of 66, 14 horses returned clear after a tough course built by world championship course designer, Mirallis. Second to go in the jump off, Bobbu set a pace that could not be beaten to take be beaten to take podiu. Speed king title for Splaine at Millstreet ROBERT SPLAINE crowned himself the speed king in Millstreet on Saturday, winning the speed derby at the Dairygold Indoor Show on Springfield Ohio. The Belgooly rider jumped clear 49.27 seconds on the 10 year old bay gelding to net the lion's share of the 2,500 pot. Splaine is renowned as a competitor who knows where the finish line is and the optimum route to reach it. This time was no different, the clock showing 49.27 seconds to give him a winining margin of almost a second in the one-round competition. Unfortunately, in winning the competition, he spoiled the party for show host Noel C Duggan, whose horse Millstreet Miss was relegated to second place. Third in the Speed Derby went to Joan Greene and Cavalier Choice, with Kanturk rider Danielle Quinlivan riding Billy Daly's Newmarket Girl in fourth place. Coolcorron Cool Diamond's Foals Top The Sales D. Pollard's sk c by Celtic Flash -Norhave April to James Timmons, €640; Mr. and Mrs Doyle's gr c by Master Imp -Slaney Cruise Diamond by King of Diamond to J. Browne, €2,350; J. Cullen's br f Orbis - Lady Frances by Colourfield to Tom breen, E. Mulligan b c by Coolcorron Cool Diamond - River Liffey by Cavalier Royale to Shannondale Stud, €5,000; Mrs. C. Doyle b c by Jacksons Drift - Oulart Daltara by Kildalton King to M. Somers, €1,200; R.Deegan's gr c by Cloneen Clover - d by Rashar to Kitty Walsh, €2,000; J Delaney's b f by Rich Rebel - Newtown Daisy by Clover Hill to P. McGuinness, €1,300; K.Warner's 7yo ro m by Master Imp - Misty Flagh to W. Cranston, €2,600; K. Warner's gr c by Coolcorron Cool Diamond- Kilcop Impala by Master Imp to John O'Flynn, €8,700; J. Ryan's l ch c by Harlequin du Carel- Swan Cruise by Cruising to Martin Walsh, €4,000; J.J. O'Sullivan's c by Colin Diamond - Mary Moe by Robertstown Boy to P. Noonan, €950 Splaine Keeps His Cool Robert Splaine picked up his first Grand Prix victory this year at Glenamaddy last weekend. His last Irish win had come at Millstreet in November 1999 when the Cork man steered COOLCORRON COOL DIAMOND to scoop the Dairygold Grand Prix during the final World Cup meeting at the Southern venue. Riding the 13 year old stallion which provided him with numerous placings this summer, including a third in the West Sands International speed stakes at Hickstead in July, Splaine found the right key to the six-way jump off on Saturday afternoon to improve on his outing at Cavan the week previously where he took runner-up behind Clement Mc Mahon and Gelvin Clover. As a popular Irish Sport Horse sire, Coolcorron Cool Diamond made a delayed return to the competition scene, having been at stud until late June. But international outings in July gave the Corkonian plenty of opportunities to warm -up for his autumn return and all-too familiar rainy season Fifth in the Grand Prix at Geesteren in July, Splaine was also a member of the team which finished fifth at Falsterbo in Sweden a week later, but his reappearance on the Irish scene was being saved for the indoor campaign, which, as it turns out, would bring far better fortunes. Alan Wade's six-fence jump-off track provided plenty of short cuts, Edward Doyle didn't quite make the grade with Ramiro B when collected four at the combination to stop the clock at 30.33 seconds. James Kernan kept a more even keel with Out Of Touch, but also faulted once in 29.90, so Clement McMahon's flawless finish in 27.22 with Dark Flight was enough to paint a pretty picture for local owner Kathleen mc Dermott. Taylor Vard was clear and in the frame with Collins 5 in 35.86 and, Gabriel Slattery also aimed for a fast clear; one on the ground at the fourth left him out in the cold with Notre Dame. But Robert Splaine, whose track record against the clock earned him a win of the Hamilton Chase at Hickstead with Diamond Cliff, wasn't going to be chased away by McMahon as he steered the coolest of Diamonds into an unassailable lead with almost a second in hand. Marketing of Stallions Becoming Increasingly Sophisticated HAVE you picked your stallion yet?' A question posed a lot around Ireand at present, it was overheard at a parade of sires organised by the West Cork Horsebreeders Co-op last Monday. These parades are growing in popularity and number on an annual basic. It is a growth that is in direct correlation to the increasing diversity of breeds available to the breeder. The access to top Continental blood lines in recent years, along with Irish Draughts, Irish Sport Horses and thoroughbreds means the brood Inure owner is presented with an eclectic choice. And in today's competitive market, he/she is wise to avail of any opportunity to view these shop-windows. Obviously, wisdom is in plentiful supply in West Cork, the Bank Holiday event Tullineaskey Equestrian Centre attracting a good number of spectators. Especially interesting for those present was the demonstration given by the offspring of one of Ireland's top competitive showjumping stallion. Two Sons of COOLCORRON COOL DIAMOND demonstrated in abundance that they had inherited the best traits of the Irish Sport Horse stallion in their genes. Both three year olds, they exhibited the good looks of their progenitor, who has been ridden to success at nations cup level by owner, Robert Splaine. Bringing the curtain down on the event, the pair were loose jumped over moderate-sized fence, as befitting their youth. However, it was their execution of the task that impressed and all agreed both had a bright future ahead. First of the two to show off his talent was a chestnut gelding out of a three-quarter bred mare by the thoroughbred sire Hallodri. An athletic type, he was bred by JP Houhihan, Tallow, Waterford, and is owned by Robert's father Ernest. Showing lots of scope he belied his immaturity, being calm in his approach and sharp in clearing the obstacle. He was followed by a brown colt bred by Alice Doyle, Borris. Co Carlow. Out of a thoroughbred mare, he was dynamic in his negotiation of the fence and displayed much innate talent. In fact, he was as good an advertisenient of the type of animal required by an ever more discerning buyer. On that theme, Robert described both as 'saleable types'. He said he would assess their potential as they matured, but he was confident they would go on to prove themselves in the competition arena. Of the sire, he said he was much in demand for his services, particularly abroad, with interest generated in the US, Holland and France. By the Irish draught Glidawn Diamond, out of a Bronti mare, the 13- year-old bay stands at Coolcorron Stud Farm in Belgooly, Co Cork. where the international rider has a state-of-the-art artificial insemination service. Coolcorron Cool Diamond Wins Again Coolcorron Cool Diamond, the world's leading Irish Sport Horse Stallion, (WBFSH rankings) jumped one of only 4 double clears in the American Nations Cup at Washington (25-28 Oct 2001) to clinch victory for Ireland. The success continued to Madison Square Gardens, New York, (2-4 Nov 2001) where he was 3rd in the Welcome Grand Prix. The Fall Circuit Tour came to a spectacular close in Toronto, Canada,(5-11 Nov 2001) for Coolcorron Cool Diamond when he was part of the Winning Irish Team that triumphed in the Canadian Nations Cup. | |
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Ireland has a gallant flag-waver on the international showjumping circuit. The double clear round in the Nations Cup at La Baule achieved by Robert Splaine and the stallion Coolcorron Cool Diamond hallmarks the tremendous effort which this combination have made to secure plaudits for Ireland's traditional breeding over the past decade.
