Abbott achieves top ten finish at four-star Pau

IRELAND’S Clare Abbott rose 13 places to achieve a top ten finish at the prestigious four-star event in Pau, France, today (Sunday) aboard Cormac McKay’s chestnut Irish Sport Horse gelding Euro Prince.

Fresh from a fourth place at Co. Cork’s three-day event at Ballindenisk last month, 29 year-old Abbott started at Pau in 22nd place after dressage, but climbed to 16th after incurring just 1.6 time penalties in the cross country phase on Saturday.

A classy clear round in the show jumping arena today propelled the Irish rider into ninth place on a total of 50.7 penalties.

Mullingar’s Joseph Murphy and DHL Top Story seemed destined to join Abbott at the elite end of the leaderboard when finishing 18th after cross country, but two poles down in show jumping left him adrift in the hotly-contested final phase, and he settled for 13th overall.

The competition was won by France’s Astier Nicolas with Piaf de B’Neville on an impressive final tally of 38.5 penalties.

Meanwhile at Aldon’s one-day event in England, Jessica Acheson was best of the Irish with a seventh place on Babaloo II, just seven points behind British winner Craig Barr with Kilmullen Dassett.

Breeding:

• Euro Prince (ISH) – 2003 chestnut gelding by Lougheries Quiet Man (UNK) out of Miss Tullydraw (UNK). Owner/Bred by Cormac McKay, Co. Armagh. Rider: Clare Abbott (IRL)

Clare Abbott on Euro Prince (ISH)