Olympic Medalist Cian O’Connor to visit Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre
Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre is delighted to announce that Cian O’Connor, Irish International Rider and Olympic Medal Winner will visit the estate on 12th & 13th April to conduct a demonstration and a series of lessons. On Friday 12th April Cian will conduct a private demonstration in the arena with tickets costing €20 per person. You can also purchase VIP gallery tickets at €35 per person which includeVIP Gallery Ticket: €35 per person (includes prime viewing gallery, glass of bubbly and canapés) prime viewing from the gallery, a glass of bubbly and canapés. On Saturday, Cian will conduct a one hour private group lesson which will commence at 9:30am and includes lunch in the gallery with Cian. Tickets cost €180 per person. Jenny Richardson, Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre Business Manager commented: “I am delighted to welcome Cian to Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre. This will be his first official appearance since winning the Olympic Bronze Medal. We expect a great turnout as there’s been huge interest so far”. Cian O’Connor is already probably Ireland’s greatest ever showjumper at the young age of 33. Undoubtedly he achieved his biggest success ever when he won a bronze medal at the London Olympic games 2012. This was immediately followed up by being a member of the Irish Nations Cup team, which won the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse show in August 2012 which enabled Ireland to finish third in the World Superleague. Cian’s achievement in winning an Olympic medal in London was all the more remarkable when as a last minute nomination to the Irish Team for the London Olympics he made it all the way through five epic rounds of the toughest showjumping tracks in the world to reach his goal of Olympic glory. Ultimately Cian’s Olympic success story reads like a blockbuster novel and his story is one of dedication, passion for excellence, and drive for success which he puts down to working harder and being more organised and planned than anybody else! Cian first saw and spotted the potential talent of his Olympic horse, Blue Loyd, back in 2010 and immediately he formed a plan which saw him buy the horse in November 2011 and subsequently trained him to reach the podium of success at the Olympics which he famously achieved. By way of background Cian was born in Dublin, Ireland and raised in the horse rich area of Co Kildare. He has a great sporting pedigree in his background as his late grandfather, Karl Mullen, was one of the all time great Irish international rugby legends. Married to Ruth and now living just outside Dublin in County Meath he trains his horses at a world class facility and stables, Karlswood, also in County Meath where he trains young and upcoming riders at the stables and from where he also trades in all classes of showjumping horses. For the past five years Cian has been the highest ranked Irish rider based in Ireland and he is regularly seen competing all over the world from Europe and the Middle East to the USA and Canada. Cian is also a well-known breeder of top class Irish showjumping horses which are well known and in great demand throughout the world as brave and intelligent equine athletes. He also has an exceptional talent in spotting potential jumping superstars and has traded many top international horses to other countries including the horse ‘Temple Road’ which reached the final round of the London Olympics this year. It is now Cian’s intention to set up a world class and independent Showjumping Centre of Excellence which will be unique and will be one of the leading centres of its kind in Europe. Equipped with leading international standard facilities with purpose made stabling, arenas, treatment areas, paddocks as well as teaching classrooms, this new venue will be based at Cian’s new base at Blackhall Manor near Dunboyne in Co Meath. For further information on these events and to purchase tickets, please contact the Equestrian Centre directly on 047 88 535 or email stables@castleleslie.com per person.
