As the countdown continues to the Olympic Games in Paris, the Irish Eventing team have laid down a marker with a hugely impressive victory in this weekend’s Connolly’s RED MILLS sponsored FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Millstreet International Horse Trials in Co Cork.
The Irish Lay in 3rd place over night after after Saturday's Showjumping Phase
The Irish team of Ian Cassells with Millridge Atlantis (ISH), Robbie Kearns with Ballyvillane OBOS (ISH), Jennifer Kuehnle with Polly Blue Eyes and Patrick Whelan with Altitu (ISH), had been in fifth place following Thursday’s opening Dressage phase on a score of 107.4. The Irish climbed to third place after a strong performance in the Show Jumping phase on Saturday, where they added just 0.4 penalties to their score. This morning’s (Sunday) final Cross Country phase saw Ireland produce another hugely impressive combined effort, adding just 2.4 time penalties to their score to finish on 110.2 and overtake overnight leaders USA and Australia for a famous Irish win on home soil. Great Britain finished in fourth, just ahead of New Zealand in fifth.
It was also a Brilliant Weekend for the Irish in the other International Competitions at Millstreet
Carlow’s Sam Watson (pictured) guiding the James Hickey-bred Ballyneety Rocketman [ISH][TIH] to victory in the CCI4*L competition.
Ian Cassells finished best of the Irish in the CCI4-S when finishing fifth with Kellys Quality (ISH), while there were Irish-bred winners in the CCI3-L and CCI3-S. Bloomfield Manuscript (ISH), bred in Co Wicklow by Daphne Tierney, took the winners prize with British rider Sam Ecroyd in the CCI3*-L, while the same rider partnered Chapel House (ISH), bred by John O’Sullivan in Co Kerry, to victory in the CCI3-S. Irish horses and riders dominated the CCI2-S with Elizabeth Power taking the win with Balladeer Clintender (ISH).
Full results available Here
