Eddie Macken

Infobox Equestrian
name = Eddie Macken


imagesize = 275px
fullname = Eddie Macken
nationality = IRL
discipline = Show jumping
birth_date = birth date and age|1949|10|20
birth_place = Granard, Republic of Ireland
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 174
medaltemplates =

Eddie Macken (born October 20, 1949) is a legendary Irish equestrian show jumper, who was a member of the famed Irish team - along with Paul Darragh, Capt. Con Power, and James Kernan - that won the Aga Khan Cup three years in a row (1977 to 79). Other notable career highlights include a record four consecutive Hickstead Derby wins (1976 to 79), two individual silver medals at the Show Jumping World Championships, 1974 with Pele and 1978 on Boomerang, and an individual silver medal at the 1977 European Championships with Pele. Macken has many major Grand Prix victories worldwide, and held the listing as the world's number one show jumper from 1976 to 1978.

Many of Macken's achievements were gained in partnership with his Irish bred gelding, Boomerang. From Macken's first rides with Boomerang as a four-year-old in 1970, the pair blazed a trail of wins that lasted a decade.

Olympic Involvement

Macken represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in 1992 Barcelona (on "Welfrenkone" finishing 75th individually) and in 1996 Atlanta (on "Schalkaar" finishing 26th individually - team 8th), and as team trainer in 2004 (Athens).

Controversy swirled around the Irish team during the 2004 Olympics. Originally selected as team trainer, Macken was sacked in June 2004 after a power struggle with Chef D'Equipe Tommy Wade, an event that came to be known as the "Macken Sackin' Affair". A group of senior Irish riders complained, and in July Macken was reinstated as team trainer and Wade was removed as Team Manager. Top team rider Cian O'Connor chose to stay out of the controversy and continue to support Wade, which raised the ire of some fellow riders. All seemed well as O'Connor went on to win the individual gold medal, and the team overall finished 7th. However the gold medal was later stripped when O'Connor's horse - Waterford Crystal - tested positive for a banned substance.

Current Status

Macken has been working out of New Kells Farm, east of Vancouver in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. He continues to ride, compete, train, and hold clinics throughout Canada and the United States. Eddie Macken has been asked back by the Irish Showjumping team manager and Chef d'Equipe Robert Splaine to jump at the Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show 2008 as part of the Aga Khan nations cup team. It was his first time back on an Irish team since his departure from Irish Equestrianism more than ten years ago and the Irish team finished an honourable 2nd behind Great Britain.

ee also

*Ireland at the 2004 Summer Olympics
*List of Irish sports people