Cian's on to a real winner with New York mayor's daughter
Related Articles
IRISH showjumping star Cian O'Connor has found true love with the daughter of the Mayor of New York following a series of career hurdles.
The young rider (27), who is set to represent Ireland in the Aga Khan Nations Cup on Friday, has revealed that he has been dating Michael Bloomberg's daughter Georgina (24) for some months.
He may find that he has met his match if he faces his young girlfriend on the rival American Nations Cup team at the Dublin Horse Show.
Cian, who will ride for Ireland in the Nations Cup for the sixth year in a row, said he has been friends with the multi-billionaire businessman's daughter for years.
Georgina has a lot in common with her new boyfriend. An accomplished equestrian, she has swept the boards in the showjumping world and plans to take the 2008 Olympics by storm. She is currently studying sports management at New York City University.
Cian's career was also meteoric until he won a showjumping gold medal at the 2004 Olympics. The medal was later stripped from him due to drugs offences when his horse, Waterford Crystal, tested positive for a prohibited substance. But the FEI (the International Equestrian Federation) later ruled the offence was not deliberate.
Yesterday, he spoke of his new romance as the couple walked the course in the main ring at the Royal Dublin Showgrounds.
"We started seeing each other over the last few months," said Cian. "We are taking it a step at a time. It is going well. She has been based in Europe but she is here in Ireland since Hickstead to prepare for Dublin."
The rosette-winning duo, who have become the hottest couple on the showjumping circuit, will be going head-to-head in several competitions throughout the week.
In the €10,000 Speed Stakes on the first day of the show, Cian came sixth with Conahy Clover in a time of 71.64 seconds, while Georgina (24) fared ninth with Nadia on a time of 73.96.
At the recent South County Dublin Horse Show in Kill International Equestrian Centre, Georgina was placed third in the Grand Prix.
"I let Cian be second," she joked. "We are both super-competitive people but there are no hard feelings outside the ring."
Georgina divulged that her busy father attends one of her competitions each year - the Hampton Classic in New York.
The business tycoon's profile has received a massive boost since he took over the post of the Mayor of New York in 2001.
In recent months, Bloomberg has been frequently mentioned in the US media as a possible candidate for the 2008 US presidential election.
Esimated to be worth at least £5bn, Bloomberg boasts numerous homes all over the world as well as his own helicopter, which he pilots himself.
Cian, who was previously going out with model Rachel Wyse, is planning to return in December to his wintering grounds of Florida's Palm Beach, where Georgina has a farm and will also be based for the winter months.
"I'll be staying with her when I go over," he said. "I'll bring my own horses with me. It is nice to have a friend to go to."
Georgina, who was dressed in the red tailored jacket of the US team, is in the all-girl American showjumping squad who are preparing for the Aga Khan Nations Cup.
But the 24-year-old is the fifth rider and may only get the chance to take part in the four-panel squad if another rider or horse is ruled out.
She told the Irish Independent that she met Cian through her trainer Jimmy Doyle.
"Cian has been a good friend for years. He has been helpful with me and my horses," she said.
Out of her squad of six horses, Georgina said she was hopeful of qualifying her horse Cim Christo for the Grand Prix.
Cian will take part in 18 competitions. He is also hopeful of taking Saturday's Land Rover Puissance with former winner, the grey Casper.
- Louise Hogan
