Legendary Irish show jumper Con Power dies aged 71
Sarah Slater
Legendary Irish show jumper and member of the three back-to-back Aga Khan winning teams for Ireland Captain Con Power has died at the age of 71.
Widely regarded as one of the most gifted horsemen of his generation, Captain Power’s first selection on an Aga Khan team at the Dublin Horse Show was in 1976 when he rode the Irish mare Mullacrew.
The successful show jumper died at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown on Sunday after a long illness, surrounded by his family including his wife Margaret, son Robert, daughter Elizabeth and granddaughter Emma.
Lovingly remembered by his family, daughter-in-law Hannah, sisters and brothers; Ann, Pat, Ted, Mandy, Vonnie, Vivienne, Pierce and Helen, extended family, friends and neighbours.
Captain Power was a member of the famous Aga Khan three-in-a-row winning team from 1977 to 1979 along with James Kernan, Eddie Macken and the late Paul Darragh, with Con being the only member of that team to ride three different Irish-bred horses – Coolronan (1977), Castlepark (1978) and Rockbarton (1979).
The father-of-two was leading rider at the RDS in 1976 and 1979 and was also named leading rider at North American shows in New York, Washington and Toronto in 1978 and at Aachen (GER) in 1979.
Originally from the Hook peninsula in Co Wexford, they would later make their home in Co Meath. A picture of Con’s father Patsy Power winning at Enniscorthy show in 1926 is proudly displayed at the family home and Patsy was also the breeder of 1947 Grand National winner Caughoo.
Con originally started his career as a jockey but moved into eventing and show jumping in his later teenage years after he grew too tall for racing. Con’s son Robbie (Puppy) Power continued the Power family racing tradition and was one of Ireland’s greatest National Hunt jockeys, with the Aintree Grand National (Silver Birch) and Cheltenham Gold Cup with Sizing John among his many wins before his retirement in 2022.
Con’s daughter Elizabeth Power has enjoyed huge success in International eventing and show jumping, winning at the Dublin Horse Show in 2019 while she has also recorded many notable victories on the Eventing circuit, while his wife Margaret also evented and competed at Badminton Horse Trials.
Con would go on to be a superb coach, passing on his skills and expertise to the next generation, not only in his own family but to many riders in Ireland including the hugely successful Allen brothers, Bertram and Harry.
Irish Horse Board Chairman Tiernan Gill paid tribute to Captain Power calling him “one of Ireland’s true horsemen, with sporting achievements in so many different aspects of the industry, coaching, racing, eventing and showjumping".
Mr Gill continued: “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 something that will probably never be repeated. Our deepest condolences to the Power family and all of Con’s many friends around Ireland and internationally. He will be sadly missed by all and his legacy will live on”.
Captain Power’s funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
