Kieran Rooney (IRL) & Hyland Serpent (ISH) - 1986 Hickstead Derby

Irish International show jumping rider Kieran (Geoghegan) Rooney (born in Banbridge, Co. Down, same town as 2002-('06) World Champion Dermott Lennon) & Hyland Serpent placing equal 2nd with John Whitaker (Ryan's Son), Michael Whitaker (Owen Gregory) and Harvey Smith (Shining Example) in the 1986 Hickstead Derby all with just one fence down (4 faults) in the 21 effort Derby course. Paul Schockemöhle won on the great Deister with a clear round. Also in 1986, Kieran and the 17.2 hh (1.77 metres at the withers) 14 y.o. Highland Flight (xx) gelding out of a Water Serpent (xx) mare out of an Irish Draught mare) Hyland Serpent finished eq. 2nd in the CSIO5* Dublin Puissance and 3rd in the 1986 CSIO5* Dublin Grand Prix (clear 1st Round - only 3 clears). In 1987 Kieran and Hyland Serpent won the CSIO5* Dublin Puissance. Kieran Rooney also won the Millstreet Boomerang Final in 1985 (Pepperpot, bay, gelding, Timmy Hyde's - Timmy also owned a chesnut pony mare "Go Easy" that Kieran told me, "I jumped her over jumps I wouldn't have jumped a horse over". My grandfather's brother Peter bought the Dam of Go Easy for his son-in-law and that man bred the Dam (13.2 hh brown old type mare) to a 16.1 hh chesnut TB sire). Then the following year 1986, Kieran also won the Millstreet Boomerang Finder Final on a chestnut, gelding, that I can't remember the name correctly "Pallasbeg Light" ?!! that the Irish Army renamed "Lismore". Kieran only sat on this chestnut, gelding, one week before the Final. Then they "Millstreet" changed the rules that you had to be qualified on that particular horse!!). Showjumpers should be able to Ride any horse any time, just like Steeplechase/hurdle and Flat Race Jockey's. Basically a Show Jumper is a Jockey but a highly skilled one! Not saying Race jockeys lack skills but the two are different. Kieran died in 1992 at the young age of 32 - Rest in Peace Kieran - you were a great show jumping rider and one of the nicest people I ever met.