Biography

Irish Olympic rider Camilla Speirs (27) and Portersize Just a Jiff placed 9^th at Badminton last year and were the travelling reserves for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. At the end of the season they achieved a career best with 6^th place at Pau CCI4*. In 2015 the pair represented Ireland (individuals) at the European Championships at Blair Castle. They also represented Ireland at the 2014 WEG and the 2012 London Olympic Games where she was the youngest rider and Just a Jiff was the smallest horse.

Camilla, who is based in Kildare, and runs her own yard, started eventing she was eight years old and ‘never really thought about doing anything else’. Her father was the Master of the local Hunt, and her mother formerly worked in a large Leicestershire hunting yard.

With Just a Jiff Camilla won the International Junior Class at Tattersalls twice and represented Ireland on two Junior teams and two Young Rider teams. In 2009 at Tattersalls (CIC3*W) Camilla was awarded the Ian Olding Memorial Trophy for the Irish rider making the highest rise after dressage (35th to 9^th). After a successful Badminton debut in 2010 the pair was selected for the WEG at Lexington but were eliminated on the cross country. They were 25th at the European Championships in Luhmuhlen 2011. In 2013 they won the Connolly’s Red Mills super eventing league.

Camilla, who trains with Ian Woodhead and Gerry Flynn, was studying English and film at University College Dublin, but left the course early due to time commitments of eventing. She instead did a one-year part-time course in marketing and advertising.

Her interests outside of eventing are; skiing, cinema, NH racing and keeping fit.

Portersize Just A Jiff owned by Bridget Speirs & rider, is a 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. He is by the Connemara Crosskeys Rebel out of a mare by the thoroughbred Mizen Melody and was acquired by Camilla in 2004. He was originally intended for pony classes but grew too tall and at 15.1hh is one of the smallest horses on the circuit. Together the pair has competed at two Junior Europeans, two Young Rider Europeans, one senior European, two World Games, one Olympic Games and have three Badminton completions.  He is described by his jockey as ‘a phenomenen’.