Heike Holstein
EQUESTRIAN
BIOGRAPHY
Heike first sat on a pony at the age of two. She won her first Irish title aged 18 (1990) and has since won it 12 times. She trained with seven-time Olympic medallist Dr Reiner Klimke in Germany for many years and this will be her fourth Olympics. She was 26th in Atlanta (1996), 42nd in Sydney (2000) and 50th in Athens (2004). She bred Sambuca herself and brought her to Grand Prix level and competed on her at the 2019 European Championships. She took 13 years out of international competition to have her family (sons Jake and Archie) so the 2019 Nations Cup in Aachen was her first appearance for Ireland in 14 years. Despite limited competitions in 2020-21 the pairing had seven top 10 placings, including the five-star Grand Prix in Rotterdam in July 2021. Her mother Gisela Holstein is an international dressage judge and her brother Erik, a show jumper, was 10th individually at the 1998 World Equestrian Games.
OTHER EQUESTRIAN ATHLETES
Sarah Ennis
Sarah has competed for Ireland since 2002 on more than 50 horses in over 280 competitions and beat the legendary British rider William Fox-Pitt in her first international victory. In 2012 she won the three-star at Ballindenisk and was Ireland’s highest eventer on the world rankings. Her individual fifth was vital to Ireland winning silver …
Sam Watson
Sam WatsonEQUESTRIAN BIOGRAPHY Since his international debut (2002) Sam has competed in three World Equestrian Games (2010, 2014, 2018) and contributed to three top ten team finishes. His biggest achievement was 14th individual place in 2018 which helped Ireland to their historic team silver. He was 12th, individually, at the 2015 European Championships and 10th …
Austin O’Connor
Austin O’ConnorEQUESTRIAN BIOGRAPHY Austin, based at Attington Stud in Oxfordshire since 1994, will be competing in his third Olympics in Tokyo. He was 21st individual and eighth in the team event at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and he was 17th individual in the Sydney Olympics (2000). In 1995 he won team gold at the …
Shane Sweetnam
Shane SweetnamEQUESTRIAN BIOGRAPHY Shane began his Grand Prix career aged 16. In 2004, after qualifying in IT from the University of Limerick, he headed to Florida and got a job with US Olympic veteran Margie Engle and has been based in Florida since. He was eighth individually to help Ireland to team gold at the …
Cathal Daniels
CATHAL DANIELSEQUESTRIAN BIOGRAPHY In 2012, aged 15, Cathal won individual and team gold at the European Pony Eventing Championship in France. He won two team golds and individual silver at European U18s (2013/2014) as well as European U21 team bronze and fourth individually in 2015. In 2018 he was part of Ireland’s team silver at …
Bertram Allen
BERTRAM ALLENEQUESTRIAN BIOGRAPHY Bertram first competed for Ireland in 2008. He won individual gold at the 2010 European Pony Championships. He won team gold (2012) and individual silver (2013) at the European Junior Championships. He was 7th individually at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, 3rd at the World Cup Final in 2015 and a member …
Darragh Kenny
DARRAGH KENNYEQUESTRIAN BIOGRAPHY Darragh rode in his first Grand Prix at 14 and debuted in the Dublin Horse Show (2007) when just 19. He was a member of Ireland’s Nations Cup (Aga Khan) victors in Dublin in 2015. In 2007 he won a training bursary to work with a top American coach at North Run …
Cian O’Connor
CIAN O'CONNOREQUESTRIAN BIOGRAPHY Cian rode in his first Nations Cup for Ireland at age 19. He won team silver at Junior Europeans in 2000. He won an individual bronze and a team gold medal at European Championships in 2017 and competed in three World Equestrian Games. He has also contested two FEI Nations Cup finals …
EQUESTRIAN NEWS
PTSB Sanctuary Run 2023
A wave of blue weaved itself through the cross country track at the Sport Ireland campus in Dublin on Sunday morning as 900 runners, walkers and joggers took part in the Permanent TSB Sanctuary Run. Now in its second year, the 5km event celebrates diversity and interculturalism in Ireland and amongst those taking part were refugees …
Gymnastics World Championships – Team and How To Watch
WOMEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNASTS Emma Slevin Halle Hilton MEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNASTS Adam Steele Dominick Cunningham Eamon Montgomery Rhys McClenaghan *Below schedule is in local Belgian time Qualifiers Day 1 - Saturday, September 30th 10:00 - 20:05 - Men's Artistic Gymnastics - Qualification Day 1 Day 2 - Sunday, October 1st 10:00 - 14:05 - Men's Artistic …
Gymnastics World Championships – Team and How To Watch Read More »
Sport Ireland Campus Kids Camps 2023
Another summer goes by of the Sport Ireland Campus Kids Camps We are delighted to partner with Sport Ireland Campus and Allianz Ireland to continue to make a positive impact and inspire the next generation! Thank you to our #TeamIreland athletes for their special appearances ☘ Shane Ryan, Róisín Upton, Nhat Nguyen, Amy Wall, Sophie Becker, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Jack …
Performance Round Up – September
European Showjumping Championships The Irish Show Jumping team delivered an excellent performance to claim the silver medal in the team final of the FEI Jumping European Championship in Milano, Italy. Reflecting on his team's performance, Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping High Performance Director Blake said: “It’s a brilliant result, we’ve been so consistent all season – but I’m getting …
Rhys McClenaghan ‘Dare To Believe’
On the 23rd of May 2023, Rhys McClenaghan made his first school visit as part of the Olympic Federation of Ireland Dare To Believe Programme, the Olympic schools programme that is sponsored by Permanent TSB. His aim is to inspire the next generation of kids and daring them to believe in themselves by sharing his …
LET’S MOVE IOC STREET CHALLENGE
An open and accessible global digital contest for urban sports enthusiasts (breaking, BMX Freestyle, Skateboarding) Show us your moves in a 30-second video for a chance to win an exclusive Olympic experience: a VIP trip to see the best of the best compete for their place at Paris 2024. Competition starts on the 23rd of …
