County Armagh’s James Kernan has been appointed as Chef d’Equipe of the Irish Children (U14), Junior (U18) and Young Rider (U21) Show Jumping teams. James Kernan took up the position on an interim basis during 2017 and Horse Sport Ireland are delighted to announce that he has now agreed to take the role on a full-time basis. “I am delighted to be taking on the role of Chef d’Equipe of the Irish Children, Junior and Young Rider Show Jumping teams. Last year as Interim Chef, we had a lot of positive learnings. It will be an exciting year with some of the European gold medal winning Pony riders moving up in category to Junior (U18). The Children (U14) category also has a lot of potential and we will be working hard to retain horse and rider combinations for the coming season. We also have a very talented and committed group of Young Riders (U21).” James Kernan is hugely experienced as a rider and trainer. He was crowned Junior European Show Jumping champion at Lucerne in Switzerland in 1974 – a result that was repeated by Brian McMahon in 1976, which was the last occasion on which an Irish rider was crowned Junior European Champion. Kernan represented Ireland at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, finishing as the highest-placed Irish rider with the stallion Touchdown, and together they were part of the winning Aga Khan team at Dublin Horse Show the same year. James Kernan was part of the famous Irish team that won the Aga Khan trophy three years in-a-row from 1977 to 1979 at the RDS in Dublin. Kernan was the youngest team member in 1977 – aged just 19.
County Armagh’s James Kernan has been appointed as Chef d’Equipe of the Irish Children (U14), Junior (U18) and Young Rider (U21) Show Jumping teams. James Kernan took up the position on an interim basis during 2017 and Horse Sport Ireland are delighted to announce that he has now agreed to take the role on a full-time basis. “I am delighted to be taking on the role of Chef d’Equipe of the Irish Children, Junior and Young Rider Show Jumping teams. Last year as Interim Chef, we had a lot of positive learnings. It will be an exciting year with some of the European gold medal winning Pony riders moving up in category to Junior (U18). The Children (U14) category also has a lot of potential and we will be working hard to retain horse and rider combinations for the coming season. We also have a very talented and committed group of Young Riders (U21).” James Kernan is hugely experienced as a rider and trainer. He was crowned Junior European Show Jumping champion at Lucerne in Switzerland in 1974 – a result that was repeated by Brian McMahon in 1976, which was the last occasion on which an Irish rider was crowned Junior European Champion. Kernan represented Ireland at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, finishing as the highest-placed Irish rider with the stallion Touchdown, and together they were part of the winning Aga Khan team at Dublin Horse Show the same year. James Kernan was part of the famous Irish team that won the Aga Khan trophy three years in-a-row from 1977 to 1979 at the RDS in Dublin. Kernan was the youngest team member in 1977 – aged just 19.