As Michael Blake leads the Irish team into the Henders & Hazel Nations Cup at the Brussels Stephex Masters, the spirit of national pride is at the forefront. After a year of consistent efforts and securing four impressive wins, Blake and his riders are not settling for second.
Your team has been so consistent throughout the year. How have you been able to maintain that level?
We’ve had an incredible year so far, with twelve podium finishes. However, as the year progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain that momentum, especially with the other obligations our riders and horses have. But we keep giving it our all. We have a really strong team here, but so does everyone else. Our strategy is to focus on these events, meticulously planning to maximize our chances of podium finishes. While it’s tough to win every time, this year, we’ve finished second maybe eight times. That’s a lot of second places, and of course, I would love to see us win them all.
Why do you think Irish riders are so passionate about the Nations Cup?
As a nation, we place a high priority on Nations Cups because representing our country is a source of immense pride. Our riders take great pride in wearing the flag and the green jacket. Many Irish riders share this passion. Last year, we fielded no fewer than 39 different riders in Nations Cups. For me, Nations Cups are the pinnacle of the sport. I want to build a dynasty in Nations Cups, but right now, as you can see, we’re not quite there yet because we keep finishing second.
How are you working to improve even more?
I’m hoping that in a year or two, we will have so many riders at this level, eager to take part in Nations Cups, that we could field competitive squads in multiple Nations Cups on the same day. We already have many promising young riders who are winning competitions in their age groups. We have a strong training ethos, and we try to teach them that it’s not about winning every day, but about winning on the day that matters. We teach them to focus on the right targets. I know in my heart that consistency is our strength, and I believe that in time, this will translate into more victories.
