The opening day of the Dublin Horse Show at the RDS was a triumph for Irish riders, setting the stage for an exhilarating week of competition. Darragh Kenny led the charge, securing a sensational victory in the Sport Ireland Classic with his 13-year-old stallion, Chic Chic. Kenny’s winning time of 69.17 seconds made him the ninth Irish rider to clinch the title in the last ten renewals of this prestigious class, edging out fellow Irishman Mikey Pender and HHS Los Angeles, who clocked in at 70.20 seconds.

Kenny, who recently celebrated a four-star victory and a Grand Prix runner-up finish in Deauville, was thrilled to continue his hot streak on home turf. “It’s always nice to be home here in Dublin,” Kenny remarked. “He’s been on form all summer, and to win here is always great.”

The day also saw other Irish riders shine brightly. Cian O’Connor secured a fourth-place finish on Fermoy in the Sport Ireland Classic, while later in the day, he added a podium finish in the Minerva Stakes by LHK Insurance, coming in third with Fox Chapel. The competition was fierce, with Emilie Conter and Julien Gonin taking the top two spots in that 1.45m speed class.

Earlier in the day, the first international class was a spectacular showcase of Irish talent, with Francis Derwin leading an Irish 1-2-3 finish in the Main Arena. Riding his nine-year-old mare Parvati AEG, Derwin posted an unbeatable time of 52.51 seconds, outpacing Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy and Daniel Coyle to claim victory.

In total, three Irish riders claimed wins in the Main Arena on Day 1, setting a powerful tone for the rest of the week. As the countdown to the Aga Khan Trophy on Friday begins, with Kenny, Denis Lynch, Mark McAuley, and O’Connor ready to take on the challenge, Ireland’s riders have shown they are more than ready to continue their success.

The 2024 Dublin Horse Show has kicked off in spectacular fashion, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the week holds!