EQUESTRIAN SPORT:IRISH RIDERS dominated the international horse trials at Necarne Castle over the weekend, winning all six classes at the Co Fermanagh venue.
Jayne Doherty put up an excellent performance in the CCI** adding just four show jumping penalties to her dressage score of 43.4 to record an all-the-way success on her 10-year-old Duci di Busted gelding The Only One.
Two British riders finished second and third on Irish-bred horses, Chloe Newton taking the runner-up spot on Newmarket Vasco One (50.5) while John Paul Sheffield, a previous winner of this class, improved from overnight sixth with Tass (55).
Wicklow’s Louise Bloomer also led from the outset to win the CCI* on the very attractive grey GFG Hollybrook Sky High, a seven-year-old grey gelding owned by the Going For Gold syndicate, the combination completing on a score of 50.1 which included four show jumping penalties.
Wexford owner Alice Kehoe and stable jockey Louise Codd landed the CIC** with the Rich Rebel gelding Westwinds El Divo while Larne racehorse trainer Stuart Crawford claimed the CIC* with Amacuzzi which he owns in partnership with Sandra Hamilton.
Both of these winning combinations have been nominated to represent Ireland at the world eventing championship for young horses in France next month.
Kildare’s Melanie Young jumped up a place to take the CCIJ* on her mother Linda’s 14-year-old gelding Riverstown Express while there was a better start to the day for the rebel county with Jane Hannigan holding on to win the CCNP** on the mare Castleview Rakish Milly which was also successful in this class three years ago.
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