Irish Sport Horses fill four of top 10 places at Eventing World Championships in France

Four Irish Sport Horses have finished in the top 10 of the six-year-old division, at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Eventing Horses at Le Lion in France today (Sunday).

The competition attracts the cream of Young Eventing Horses to Le Lion d’Angers in Western France each year. The Irish Sport Horse I Spye, bred by Thomas Ryan from Co Tipperary), finished in fourth place with Jesse Campbell (NZL) on a score of 43.4
Elizabeth Power and The Irish Sport Horse DSL The Entertainer,  bred by Caroline Bjoerk from Co. Kildare, were just one place further back in fifth on a score of 45.0, while Rio Olympian Jonty Evans with John The Bull (ISH),  bred by James Byrne from Co. Westmeath, finished in ninth place on a score of 46.6. Youve got the Lux (ISH), bred in Co Kilkenny by Jane Darragh, finished 10th with Hayden Hankey (GBR).

The gold medal went to Britain’s Izzy Taylor with Monkeying Around after they came home on their Dressage score of 37.6.

Janet Murray, Chef d’Equipe of the Irish team for the Young Horse Championships in Le Lion said:

“I am delighted to see Irish Sport Horses so well represented, with four in the top 10 of the six-year-old old world championship. Elizabeth [Power] is understandably disappointed as her horse warmed up very well but had just one tired jump in the arena which cost her a medal at the horse’s first CCI. Jonty’s [Evans] horse jumped well and both are exciting horses for the future with a return visit next year for the seven-year-old class high on their agendas. I Spye produced his best ever performance for New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell who was very pleased with the son of Harlequin du Carel.”

Earlier this month, The Irish Sport Horse Studbook was once again crowned the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) leading Eventing Studbook in the world for 2017.Since the WBFSH rankings were established in 1994, the Irish Sport Horse Studbook has won the coveted Eventing Studbook rankings for an incredible 22 of the last 24 years.

BREEDING:
4th I Spye II (ISH) [was Lates Harry] – 2011 mare by Harlequin du Carel (SF) out of Lombardos Corner (ISH) by Lombardo (KWPN). Breeder: Thomas Ryan (Tipperary). Rider: Jesse Campbell (NZL)
5th DSL The Entertainer (ISH) – 2011 bay gelding by Omar (BWP) out of Cloverhill Girl (ISH), by Clover Hill (ID). Owner/Bred by Caroline Bjoerk, Co. Kildare. Rider: Elizabeth Power (IRL)
9th John The Bull (ISH) – 2011 chestnut gelding by Luidam (KWPN) out of Think About It (TB), by Houmayoun (TB). Bred by James Byrne, Co. Westmeath. Owner: Helen Caton. Rider: Jonty Evans (IRL)

10th Youve got the Lux (ISH) – 2011 mare by Lux Z (HANN) out of Valeska (ISH). by Carrolls Flight (AES). Breeder: Jane Darragh, Co Kilkenny. Rider: Hayden Hankey (GBR)