Victory for Clarke and Fenya at Bramham

Irish event rider and Olympian Aoife Clark swept to victory last Sunday at the three-star Bramham event in England on the superb Irish Sport Horse Fenya’s Elegance, who has become an outstanding ambassador for sport horse breeding. The combination climbed 10 places from their opening dressage score.

Clark made up lost ground during Saturday’s cross country phase after trailing British rider Izzy Taylor’s remarkable dressage score of 28.1, and was in second place before the final show jumping phase, where she narrowly snatched victory with a zero score against Taylor and Orlando’s four faults.

World number one, Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Freddie Mac settled for third place.

Ireland’s Mark Kyle with the Irish Sport Horse Coolio also turned in a clear jumping round at Bramham, lifting them from overnight 12th to a seventh-placed finish.

Coolio is a grey gelding by Ghareeb (TB) out of Beechland Lady (WNTR), by Diamond Serpent (ISH). He was bred by Walter Crean from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, and is owned by Ronnie Bartlett and his rider Mark Kyle. Despite having three fences down, Clark also claimed 12th place with Vaguely North in the three-star event.

Fenya’s elegance

Fenya’s Elegance was bred and is owned by Cork farmer PJ Hegarty. This chesnut mare was sired by Ricardo Z. Her dam is Fenya (ISH), by Good Thyne (TB).

Fantastic win

Speaking to The Irish Horse after the competition, proud breeder and owner PJ Hegarty said: “What a fantastic win – we must travel more often. We have had faith in this horse from the very start when she placed fifth as a three-year-old in the Young Irelander at Millstreet.

“As a four-year-old she was FEHL champion at Tattersalls and she was also RDS champion hunter mare, among other successes,” he said.

“At 10, she is now the first Irish horse ever to have won two CCI three-star events.”