Jennifer Micklem Diamond

The Irish international eventing season came to an exciting close at Ballindenisk Autumn International Horse Trials in Cork last weekend. Britain’s Ros Canter made a perfect return to international competition following the birth of her first child earlier this year.

Canter partnered her World Equestrian Games individual and team gold medal winning horse Allstar B to win the CCI4*-L. British riders filled the top six places with Oliver Townend in second and Storm Straker in third. Michael McNally was the highest placed Irish rider in seventh with Eclipto.

New Zealand’s James Avery won the CCI4*-S with One Of A Kind II. Britain’s Izzy Taylor finished second just ahead of Ireland’s Elizabeth Power in third. Izzy Taylor went one better in the CCI3*-L when she won the class by over five marks.

Cathal Daniels was the only Irish rider to win an international class, claiming the CCI2*-L with OLS Queen Bee. British riders Oliver Townend and Holly Woodhead won the CCI3*-S and the CCI2*-S respectively. However, Irish riders dominated in the Michael Leonard five and six-year-old memorial class with victory going to Sarah Ennis and Sligo Candy Cane.

Adding to the success of the event, Ballindenisk unveiled plans for a new all –weather competition arena. The new arena will be used for international and national competitions, as well as for various training events.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD was in Ballindenisk for the announcement. The Minister and his department have been instrumental in progressing the plans for this new facility.

“As Minister with ultimate responsibility for the equine sector and the sport horse industry in particular, I am acutely conscious of our global standing and the importance of having an infrastructure that matches the breeding stock that we have internationally. It is more relevant than ever given the recent successes we have achieved at the European Championships across multi-disciplines. Without leaders like Peter (Fell, event director at Ballindenisk), the industry will not develop and I applaud him for his commitment to the Sport,” commented Minister Creed.