Castlemagner’s Shane Sweetnam is now the third-ranked show jumper in the world following a remarkable run of form that has seen the Cork Olympian deliver a series of eye-catching performances on the international stage.
The landmark moment came at the prestigious Falsterbo Horse Show in Sweden, where Sweetnam claimed his maiden Rolex Grand Prix victory aboard his trusted partner James Kann Cruz (“Gizmo”), securing the biggest win of his career to date.
The victory, his first CSIO5 Grand Prix success and first Rolex Grand Prix triumph, played a major role in propelling Sweetnam to a career-high World No. 3 position in the FEI World Rankings.
However, the rise has been built on a sustained period of consistency, with Sweetnam and his horses producing a series of top-level performances against the world’s best riders.
Among those standout performances was another impressive display from Pegina VD Bisschop at the Traverse City Nations Cup during GLEF 4, where the talented horse delivered a crucial double-clear round to help Ireland secure a bronze medal.
That performance further underlined the strength of Sweetnam’s team of horses and contributed to a remarkable period that has seen him continue to climb among the sport’s elite.
Taking to his social media, Sweetnam paid tribute to the people behind his success, highlighting the importance of his owners, staff, family and entire support team.
“None of this would be possible without our incredible owners, staff, family, and the entire team,” Sweetnam said.
“Most of all, thank you to our amazing horses, the heart of everything we accomplish.”
The Castlemagner rider, who has represented Ireland at the highest level of international competition including the Olympic Games, has built a reputation for producing consistent results at major events around the world.
His partnership with James Kann Cruz, alongside the performances of horses such as Pegina VD Bisschop, has been central to a season that has seen Sweetnam firmly establish himself among the leading names in global show jumping.
