Tommy Brennan

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameThomas "Tommy"•Brennan
Used nameTommy•Brennan
Nick/petnamesTB
Born29 January 1940 in Kilkenny, Kilkenny (IRL)
Died20 July 2014
Measurements190 cm / 80 kg
NOC Ireland

Biography

Tommy Brennan competed in both jumping and eventing, representing Ireland at the 1964 Olympics as an eventer, where he just missed a medal aboard Kilkenny. In 1966 he and Kilkenny won a gold medal with the Irish team at the FEI World Eventing Championships at Burghley, England. Kilkenny was later sold to Jimmy Wofford, who rode him to a team gold at the 1967 Pan American Games and team silvers at both the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games.

Brennan was brought up on the family farm in Dunnamaggin where he developed his love of horses, often hunting with the County Kilkenny Foxhounds on Saturday. He trained in animal husbandry, and then moved to Skiddoo Stud in Dublin to further his equestrian and agricultural education. He later took a key role at Skiddoo eventually running the operation.

During his career Brennan had 67 international jumping wins and won nine Irish Championships. He later helped design cross-country courses for eventing, notably for the 1991 and 2003 European Championships held at Punchestown in Ireland. He served as chef d’equipe frequently for Irish junior teams, and with the senior team at the 12007 FEI Nations Cup in Linz, Austria.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1964 Summer Olympics Equestrian Eventing (Equestrian) IRL Tommy Brennan
Individual, Open (Olympic) Kilkenny 16
Team, Open (Olympic) Kilkenny / Ireland 4
1968 Summer Olympics Equestrian Eventing (Equestrian) IRL Tommy Brennan
Individual, Open (Olympic) March Hawk DNF
Team, Open (Olympic) March Hawk / Ireland DNF