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A group of Polish Pentathletes came to Dublin for a week as guests of MPAI to improve their equestrian skills.
Sunday 28th October
The Polish Modern Pentathlon team arrived today at 11.30 am for a week of Showjumping training at Broadmeadows Equestrian Centre, Co Meath. They were met at Dublin airport by Marie Bailey Chairperson MPAI and Jim Bailey the organiser of the training week. The team consists of two women athletes Marta Dziadura and Sylwia Czwojdzinska, and three men athletes Bartosz Majewski, Marcin Horbacz and Michal Kacer. The team were accompanied by two coaches Stanislaw Pytel head pentathlon coach and Jan Zolkiewski head equestrian coach. Sylvia and Marcin have already qualified for the Beijing Olympics whilst Marta is ranked 6th in the world and was European champion in 2006. Bartosz is ranked 29th in the world and Michal is ranked 52nd in the world. The team were taken to their accommodation in Broadmeadows on arrival and later in the afternoon after lunch, Jim took them on a trip around Dublin City. It was very unfortunate that it started raining just before they set off for the city so all sights were viewed from within the Olympic Council Bus. The entire group joined the Bailey family for dinner this evening at Kettles Country House hotel in Rolestown. Afterwards they were brought back to their accommodation for hopefully a good nights rest.
Monday 29th October
The athletes familiarised themselves with the horses this morning, each athlete had an opportunity to try out the horses under the supervision of their riding coach. Afterwards they headed off for a run. They enjoyed lunch at Broadmeadows and this afternoon they are visiting Killossery Lodge Equestrian Center to watch a Grand Prix Showjumping Competition.
Tuesday 30th Oct.
This morning the athletes met their instructor Comdt Brian Mc Sweeney, they had a flatwork session with one of our own pentathletes Eanna Bailey leading the ride so our visitors could see what to do if they did not understand the instruction given. The Polish riding coach also assisted and did some translation. In the afternoon they did some grid work and popped a few jumps. This evening the group went to Ashbourne to do some shopping.
Wednesday 31st Halloween
The riders have a new instructor today Capt Geoff Curran one of the Irish army’s top event riders. They enjoyed another morning of flatwork and in the afternoon did some more jumping. These athletes would not have ridden horses until their late teens so they need lots of what all of you from a pony club background consider quite basic instruction but already after just two days of work there is an improvement in their riding. The entire squad were asked to sample some Irish hospitality at a Halloween party in Baileys but only the coaches accepted as the athletes were tired. The coaches had an opportunity to see how we celebrate Halloween and watched Eilbhe and her friends play some Halloween games. They even contributed some coins to the basin where the children were playing ducking games.
Thursday 1st Nov
The two girls Marta and Sylwia were spotted at 7.30am on an early morning run. Comdt Brian Mc Sweeney was back today and they started by observing and helping him to construct a grid which they worked on later. That afternoon I came to watch the session and Comdt Mc Sweeney certainly put them through their paces as they jumped a course of fences paying particular attention to the horse’s strides and paces. They certainly enjoyed this session and Marcin was elated when he went double clear on his horse for the day Melacey. Comdt Mc Sweeney then raised a few fences and challenged them to another round of jumping, this time around Marta was the one who went clear on Quinn.
Friday 2nd November
This morning after a gentle warm up session the riders went out to jump a few small cross country fences in the fields at Broadmeadows, this was a huge treat for these athletes who never experienced this type of jumping at home in Poland. The lads then went for a 10k run before lunch. This is the evening all the group have looked forward to all week. They prepared themselves and Jim, Jan and Eanna prepared the horses to go showjumping in a mini, midi, maxi competition at Killossery Lodge Equestrian Centre. And so off to Killossery we went Cormac driving the Olympic bus with the athletes, Jim pulling two horses and Marie pulling two more. Comdt Mc Sweeney met them at Killossery lodge and walked the course with them and advised them on how best to ride it. In true pentathlon style the athletes asked us to draw their horses and each rider had an opportunity to jump two rounds. The two Beijing bound athletes did not let the side down as they were the only ones who went clear. It was a tired but satisfied bunch of people who returned to Broadmeadows tonight.
Saturday 3rd Nov.
The athletes had their final spin on the horses this morning when they took them out for a gentle bit of work after the exertions of last night. Then off with the athletes for a 10k run before they were collected at 11.00am by Steven who took them to meet our elite athletes at Rolestown. The Irish athletes were on a training day and were delighted to meet Poland’s best pentathletes. Then off they went to the National Stud for a tour and lunch. Afterwards they visited the Japanese Gardens, then it was home to have dinner and pack for their departure in the morning.
Sunday 4th Nov
Jim collected the athletes at 5am and took them to the airport for their return flight to Poland.
We at the MPAI wish the Polish pentathletes the best of good luck, health and soundness of limb in their preparation for Beijing in 2008 and beyond. It was a great honour and pleasure to have them come to Ireland to train for Beijing.We are indebted to Lt. Col. Gerry O'Gorman, Comdt. Brian McSweeney and Capt. Geff Curran of the Irish army, without their help and instruction this venture would not have been possible.Thank you to the Olympic council for the use of the mini bus which was used to ferry the visitors around for the week.To Brian Duff proprietor of Broadmeadows Equestrian Centre thank you for the use of your magnificent facility for the week and to Frank and Laura Glynn of Killossery Lodge thanks for having us on Friday night. And finally to all of our pony club and equestrian friends thank you for your horses we know it is a huge gesture of faith to give the loan of a horse for a previously untried venture like this.We look forward to continued co-operation with the Polish Pentathlon Federation and maybe we will be on the Olympic stage with them in 2012.
Marie Bailey
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