Mike and Old Road competing in Badminton in 2010 Photo: Nico Morgan

Bandon Based, Michael Ryan may not be competing in Badminton Horse Trials this year, but it will be a special occasion for him as he is one of two riders that will be presented with an Armada Dish from the World famous Badminton Horse Trials this weekend. The award is presented to riders for completing Badminton five times. Ryan, who competed on Old Road on four occasions (2006, 2008, 2010, and 2011) and Ballylynch Skysport (2010), is one of only eight Irish riders to receive the prestigious award.  The award which began in the 1960’s includes some of the worlds leading eventing riders such as Andrew Nicholson, Lucinda Green and HRH Princess Anne. Among the Irish recipients are Captain H. Freeman- Jackson (1964), Penny Morten 1965, Lucy Thompson (1999) and Eric Smiley (1995)

Ryan flew over on Wednesday and will join fellow Olympian Pippa Funnell on Sunday to collect his award.

Ryan said “It is one of my biggest achievements to have competed at Badminton Horse Trials, for me it is next to competing at the Olympics.  Without a doubt it is one of the most challenging courses in the world and a huge test for both horse and rider. To be selected to compete in Badminton is a great result for any rider, but to complete the course on five different occasions is a testament to the standard of horses your are riding as they need have plenty of heart and skill. Old Road, who is now retired, was such a loyal servant and my only disappointment for him was that he was set to compete in Badminton for the fifth year in 2012, but injury ruled him out.  I would like to thank my wife Trish, the team at home and the owners of the horses Tom and Carol Henry and John Butler. Many we enjoy many more years at Badminton”

In the video below, Mike commentates on Hugh Ryans CrossCountry Round in the CIC* at Ballindenisk April 2014 riding Garrydruig Cruisader.

IRELAND’S Michael Ryan held his dressage score of 43.5 right through the Osberton International Horse Trials this weekend to finish second on Ballylynch Wizard today (Sunday) in the CCI two-star class.

The Bandon, Co. Cork-based rider steered Carol and Tom Henry’s gelding up from fifth place after dressage and cross country to claim the runner-up spot after a faultless show jumping phase this afternoon, on a total of 43.5 penalties.

Fellow Cork rider Austin O’Connor slipped from second overall to 13th when collecting eight jumping penalties on Wendie Foster’s Irish Sport Horse Kilpatrick Knight, with Australia’s Sam Griffiths climbing from fourth place after cross country on Angelo IV to take the Osberton trophy on a score of 43.3, just ahead of Ryan.

In Osberton’s two-star Young Horse class, Ireland had three top ten places, Mark Kyle riding the Irish Sport Horse SBT Prospector into fourth, and Alkima GII into seventh. Elizabeth Power took ninth with Xavier Faer. The class was won by Britain’s Tom How and Belco HRS.

Video includes some entertaning questions from Facebook fans…

Video provided by Ruby PR, created for Donegan Ryan Eventing Team and Hit Air