Irish Eventing team storm to FEI Nations Cup home win in Millstreet
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 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, with 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 from Millstreet International Horse Trials available HERE
BREEDING
MILLRIDGE ATLANTIS (ISH) – 2014 gelding by Dinan Cascaletto (ISH) out of Kereen Sue (ISH) by Warrenstown You 2 (ISH). Breeder: Sean O’Loughlin, Co Kilkenny. Owner: Fiona Leahy and Gerry Leahy. Rider: Ian Cassells (IRL)
ALTITU (ISH) – 2015 gelding by Orestus VDL (KWPN) out of Happy Choice by Aram (KWPN). Breeder: Seamus Carew. Owner: Seamus Carew. Rider: Patrick Whelan (IRL)
BALLYVILLANE OBOS (ISH) – 2013 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Gleesons Coolcorran (ISH) by Young Convinced (TB). Breeder: Tim Gleeson Owner: Richard Ames. Rider: Robbie Kearns
BALLYNEETY ROCKETMAN (ISH) [TIH] – 2014 gelding by Diamond Discovery (TB) out of Ballyneety Macrocket (ISH) by Errigal Flight (ISH). Breeder: James Hickey. Owner: Hannah & Sam Watson
KELLYS QUALITY (ISH) – 2013 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Kellys Leader (TB) by Supreme Leader (TB). Breeder: Francis Kelly (Roscommon). Rider: Ian Cassells (IRL)
BLOOMFIELD MANUSCRIPT (ISH) – 2015 gelding by Financial Reward (TB) out of Bloomfield Lucy Locket (ISH) by Olympic Lux (KWPN). Breeder: Daphne Tierney (Wicklow). Rider: Sam Ecroyd (GBR)
CHAPEL HOUSE (ISH)[was Dicksgrove Heartbeat] – 2014 gelding by Sibon W (KWPN) out of Dicksgrove Coleen (ISH). Breeder: John O’Sullivan (Kerry). Rider: Sam Ecroyd (GBR)