Galway woman aiming to jump to world glory!

That’s because Coole native Jessica Burke has achieved her dream goal of qualifying for the Longines FEI World Cup show jumping finals in Fort Worth, Texas, from April 8 to 12.

Jessica, who, post-Texas, moves back to a new base at Brian McConville’s Ballyward Equestrian in Northern Ireland, initially took a career break from teaching to follow her dream as a professional showjumper.

Another European pony team medalist from Ralph Conroy’s yard, Turbo Boy, Bean Alaining and Sillogue Darkie were her earliest superstars, and now it’s another ‘star’: the exciting young horse Good Star du Bary, bred in Normandy by Marina Storgato and Christian Gonsolin at their Elevage du Bary studfarm, that provides the horsepower for her World Cup debut.

It was their win in the Bordeaux World Cup qualifier – where owner Liam Nicholas celebrated his 60th birthday the same weekend – that has sealed Jessica’s first-time Final appearance.

That breakthrough win followed on from the pair’s consistent form throughout the World Cup qualifier season at international shows throughout Europe, including Basel, Oslo, Stuttgart, Mechelen and Verona.

There, ringside in Basel, was one of her greatest supporters, her mother Catherine, who will be one of several supporters travelling to Fort Worth.

Jessica’s father Francis will take care of the home farm, where the family breed sport horses, thoroughbreds and Connemaras, while amongst Jessica’s Texas cheerleaders will be several U.S-based relatives, plus Catherine, her other daughter Olga, (an equine vet currently doing an internship with Ger Kelly in Fethard Equine Hospital), “her coach Roger McCrea and of course the owners, Liam and Erica, are going,” said Catherine.

The new Irish showjumping chef d’equipe Jessica Kürten, herself runner-up in the 2006 World Cup final held that year in Kuala Lumpur, will also be there to support Jessica Burke.

She’s one of two Irish riders who have qualified for this year’s World Cup final, the other being U.S-based Daniel Coyle.

“I’m going there with a lot of confidence, really hoping I can produce a good result,” said Jessica.

“Richard Vogel is in there, Steve Guerdat is looking to win four times; McLain Ward, so there’s a lot of incredible competitors in there. We’ll give it our best shot,” she added, naming some of the other rivals, including current European individual gold medal champion Vogel and three-time World Cup and 2012 Olympic individual champion Guerdat.

The trio’s horses will be amongst the European horsepower that will be transported aboard a special flight to America this Friday.

Travelling over a day in advance, to meet ‘her’ horse, is devoted groom Aaliyah Phillips, who first went to work for Jessica in Gort as a 16-year-old schoolgirl.

“Aaliyah is a great girl and I suppose it’s a testament to Jessica that herself and another English groom will come back to work in Belfast with her afterwards,” said Catherine, about their ‘supergroom’, who like her boss, was based at their previous Arion Stud base in the U.K for over six years.

The majority of the Irish fan club will then follow on, travelling on American Airlines direct flight to Dallas-Fort Worth.

“Everybody’s behind her,” said Jessica’s proud mother, remarking on the level of local support.

“Everywhere I went this weekend, it was, ‘Tell Jessica we’re thinking of her,’ which is lovely.”

The support had already started once Jessica and ‘Rocky’ secured their Final place with their Bordeaux win.

At the Galway Blazers Hunt Ball, good friend Colm Farrell started the well-wishes for the Galway girl in his speech, while wearing a cowboy hat for the occasion!

Known for her deep bond with her horses, Jessica and ‘Rocky’ (one of the youngest horses in the final), are bidding to do the west and the rest of Ireland proud in Texas.