Austin O'Connor
Austin O'Connor
Hometown: Cork, now based in Oxfordshire
Competes for: Ireland
Notable Achievements: Representing Ireland at Olympic level in 2000 and 2008.
Current String of Horses: Ringwood Mississippi, Kilpatrick Knight, Balham Houdini, Day by Day, Morning Venture.
Biography: Austin was immersed in the equine industry from a young age, as his family are well respected in equestrian circles. As a Junior, Austin represented Ireland in numerous international competitions, which included a Gold medal win in the Young Rider World Championships in 1995. He has also represented Ireland at senior level in two Olympic Games, in Sydney 2000 on Horseware Fabio and Beijing 2008 on Hobby du Mee.
Austin is now based with his partner, Amy Crerar, at Attington Stud, in Oxfordshire, where he not only trains and competes his own horses, but offers training to pupils in the Stud's excellent facilities. His base in Oxfordshire allows him to compete regularly both at home and abroad, regularly featuring in classes from Novice to 4* events.
He recently competed at Rolex Kentucky 4* with Balham Houdini, owned by himself and Kate Jarvey, earning a very credible 16th place in the horse's 1st 4*. Kilpatrick Knight, owned by Wendie Foster, had a 2nd place in a competitive Advanced class at Withington Manor. His aims for the rest of the season include Aachen CICO3*, Burghley 4* and hopefully Blair European Championships if selected.
Speed test - questions and answers
First Riding Memory: Hunting my chestnut Shetland pony 'Foxy', aged 5! This was my first pony!
Career Highlight: Fourth Badminton on Simply Rhett in 1999 and representing Ireland in 2 Olympic Games
Greatest Riding Influence: JJ O'Neill - now racehorse trainer but top jockey when I was a boy
Favourite Way to Unwind: Going to the races
Three Dream Dinner Guests: AP McCoy, Jeremy Clarkson and Jack Charlton
Childhood Hero: Jon Jo O'Neill
Favourite Event: Rolex Kentucky, very fortunate to have been in 2013 and 2015
Latest News Posts about Austin
30 December 2015
Connolly's RED MILLS Ambassadors played key role in a superb Irish eventing year, with Rio 2016 next on the list.
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14 September 2015
Connolly's RED MILLS Ambassador Sam Watson with Horseware Lukeswell (ISH), finished as the best placed Irish rider, in 12th place overall at the FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle, Scotland.
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Latest Blog Posts about Austin
18 August 2015
Firstly, apologies for the lack of blogging this year. Truth be told, looking back is not a strength of mine – whether things go well or not, the lessons to be learned are usually done so within hours and thereafter the moment is history.
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10 September 2014
The Irish Eventing Team achieved its objective at the World Equestrian Games by attaining one of the six coveted qualification slots for the Rio Olympics in 2016. On reflection I’m very proud to be a part of that team, but at the time there was a very odd mixture of emotions in Normandy.
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