Jordan Coyle with Eristov and Britain’s Rachel Proudley with Easy Boy De Laubry Z shared the Defender Puissance at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show on Saturday night.
It was an incredible result for Eristov, the 17-year-old grey gelding who has achieved so much success throughout the world, as the event was his final career class before retirement.
Easy Boy De Laubry Z and Proudley won the Puissance last year and were popular competitors as the British rider wore a Mayo jersey during most of the competition.
Round One
Nine combinations entered the Defender Puissance – seven from Ireland along with The Netherlands’ Zoi Snels and the defending champion, Rachel Proudley with Easy Boy De Laubry Z.
Waterford’s Paddy O’Connell and Quality Command were the only four faulters from the opening round.
Jump-Off Rounds 1 & 2
Derry rider Daniel Coyle and VDL Mourinho exited at the jump-off round 1 stage – where only the triple bar and the Wall had to be jumped – when failing to successfully clear the Wall at 1.95m (6′ 5″).
In jump-off round 2, the first to take on the Wall at 2.05m (6′ 9″) was Sligo’s Richard Howley aboard the Bolesworth Puissance victor, French Connection. The pair dislodged a brick from the top of the Wall, with the same happening to the Dutch competitor Zoi Snels with Jiminez Z.
Jordan Coyle and Eristov, next into the Laya Arena, became the first combination to clear the Wall at 2.05m (6′ 9″).
His fellow Irish rider Mikey Pender, riding Coblue PS, experienced the same fate as Richard Howley and Zoi Snels as they knocked part of the top line of the Wall.
Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z ensured a third jump-off round when they went clear. They were followed by Andrew Hodgins from Sligo with Shanaclough Luichew, and then Longford’s Derek McCoppin and Explosief’s Legacy.
Jump-Off Rounds 3 & 4
For jump-off round 3, the Wall was increased to 2.15m with four combinations talking on the challenge.
Jordan Coyle and Eristov went clear, before Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laurby Z followed them, to ensure there would be jump-off round four. Andrew Hodgins and Shanaclough Luichew were unable to clear the Wall at 2.15m, but were immediately followed into the arena by Derek McCoppin with Explosief’s Legacy, who became the third combination to go through to a final round.
The fourth jump-off round saw both Coyle and Proudley have four faults each, as they and their horses failed to clear the Wall at 2.22m (7′ 3″). Derek McCoppin and his partner, Explosief’s Legacy, had both the triple bar and the Wall down for eight fault.
As a result Coyle with Eristov and Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z shared the win in the Defender Puissance for 2026.
Speaking after the class, Derry rider Jordan Coyle admitted:
“I actually feel disappointed. I think I let him down bigtime in the last round. I actually think he would have jumped it if I had done my job, but for him to retire like this is unbelievable. He is actually the horse that started everything for me. What he has given me has been unbelievable and for him to retire like this in incredible.”
