A legendary rider of the 1970s and ’80s, Capt. Con Power of Ireland, has passed away at age 71 after a long illness.
A mainstay of the Irish team during his era, Capt. Power was part of his nation’s three straight victories in the country’s most important competition, the Aga Khan Cup at the Royal Dublin Horse Show, in 1978, 1979 and 1980. He was leading rider at Dublin in 1976 and 1979 and took the same award at Washington, New York and Toronto in 1978. Capt. Power won five classes at Aachen in 1979,
The horses he rode included Coolronan, Castlepark and Rockbarton. Another of his mounts, Mullacrew, became the dam of influential Irish sporthorse sire, Cruising.
The legendary Irish Aga Khan team of Paul Darragh, Con Power, James Kiernan and Eddie Macken.
Although he started his career as a jockey, growing to 6-feet, 2-inches tall called for a change of focus. Beginning in the Army Equitation School in 1973 on a six-week trial, he was selected to stay. In 1979, he retired from the Irish Defense Forces and set up his own equestrian business. The former officer was Irish Show Jumping Rider of the Year from 1983-1986.
Irish Horse Board Chairman Tiernan Gill pointed out that “Capt. Con Power really was one of Ireland’s true horsemen, with sporting achievements in so many different aspects of the industry, coaching, racing, eventing and showjumping.
“To be part of the famous three-in-a-row Aga Khan winning team on three different Irish-bred horses, demonstrates the phenomenal talent that he had with different types of horses. Winning a puissance competition before riding on a winning Nations Cup team at the same show, on the same horse, is a something that will probably never be repeated.”
Capt. Power is survived by his wife, Margaret, and their children, Robbie, a former jockey and Elizabeth, an eventer.