Padraig McCarthy makes Badminton top 10

Padraig McCarthy certainly made an impact when finishing in eighth place at his first Badminton Horse Trials in England last weekend.

Originally from Tipperary, McCarthy was equalling Ireland’s highest placing at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

McCarthy and the 13-year old gelding Mr Chunky were competitive from the start, scoring 28.9 in the dressage, putting them in equal 26th place going into the very influential cross-country phase. The pair only added 6.4 time penalties in the cross country with one of the fastest rounds of the day.

The show jumping phase also proved to be very influential to the final result as only five combinations jumped clear inside the time. McCarthy added three time penalties to finish on a score of 38.3.

Joseph Murphy, riding Sportsfield Othello (ISH), was next best of the Irish coming home in 13th. Ciaran Glynn finished in 25th with November Night (ISH) (TIH), and Alan Nolan and Bronze Flight in 52nd place.

Unfortunately the luck was not with all of the Irish riders. Jonty Evans and Cooley Rorkes Drift, who were in fourth place after dressage, were eliminated during the cross-country. Clare Abbott and James O’Haire both fell at different stages of the cross-country, resulting in elimination.

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price and Classic Moet took home the top prize. The pair had the fastest cross-country round on Saturday, coming in just one second over the optimum time and they show jumped clear inside the time on Sunday.

Irish sport horses filled four of the top six places at the world-famous event, including Cooley SRS who finished in second place with Oliver Townend. Cooley SRS was bred in Co Wexford by John Fitzhenry.

A number of the riders competing at Badminton Horse Trials will be coming to Ireland to compete at Tattersalls International at the end of May, including Jonty Evans, Tom McEwen and Lydia Hannon.

Camphire International Horse Trials Bailed out by Ames

Following weeks of uncertainty, the 2018 Camphire International Horse Trials will go ahead as planned from 25-29 July after local Kilkenny businessman Richard Ames came on board as title sponsor.

The fixture was initially cancelled due to a reduction in grants from Horse Sport Ireland and Eventing Ireland but thanks to this late lifeline will go ahead under the banner of Semalease Camphire International Horse Trials and Country Fair.

Five-star win for Denis Lynch

Irish show jumpers enjoyed a successful weekend at the five-star Global Champions Tour in Madrid, Spain, when both Darragh Kenny and Denis Lynch claimed victories.

Lynch’s victory came in the final class of the show, the 1.50m Kings Cup Volvo Trophy. Riding the Rushy Marsh Farm-owned RMF Echo (Virus de Laubry x Feo), the Tipperary native was one of 12 combinations to make it through to the jump-off and he produced a blistering clear in 37.37 seconds to claim the top prize of €33,000. Mayo’s Cameron Hanley made it two Irish in the top three when he slotted into third place with Eis Isaura.

“He’s a naturally very quick horse. He gives his best, and I’m very lucky to have him, so thanks to Rushy Marsh [Farm]. We had a good shot to the last – we had a lucky rub, but you need luck to win like that,” a delighted Lynch said afterwards.

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny won Friday’s first round team competition aboard Cassini Z (Cassini II x Capone) to claim €16,500, while Hanley again placed third with the consistent Tinka’s Boy-sired 10-year-old mare Eis Isaura.

Allen wins in Fontainebleau

Seventeen-year-old Harry Allen won the Junior 1.40m class at the Nations Cup show in Fobtainebleau, France, last Saturday. Riding Ballywalter Farms’ EH Quick Nina (by Quidam’s Rubin), Allen was the fastest of 21 double clear rounds to claim victory.

James Kernan’s junior team of Allen (Dis Moi rout de Clairebois), Kate Derwin (AHG Whiterock Cruise Down (ISH)), Jason Foley (Castlefield Vegas) and Sean Monaghan (Simone) finished second in Friday’s Nations Cup competition.