Aoife Clark and Fernhill Adventure fifth at Belton international

KILDARE-born Aoife Clark finished best of the Irish at the three-star international Event at Belton in the UK today (Sunday), where four Irish riders finished inside the top 15.

Clark and The Irish Sport Horse Fernhill Adventure, had been in third place after the opening Dressage phase which finished on Saturday. The Irish pair moved up to second place after a foot perfect clear Show Jumping round this morning. They also jumped clear in the final Cross Country phase, adding 6.4 time penalties to take fifth place overall.

The tight time allowed saw just one combination, Christopher Burton and Nobilis 18, come home without penalties and the Australian rider was rewarded with the overall victory.

Clare Abbott and Euro Prince (ISH) were next best of the Irish in 11th, one place ahead of Mark Kyle and Jemilla in 13th, while Sarah Ennis and BLM Diamond Delux came home in 15th. In the CIC2* class at Belton, Sarah Ennis and Woodcourt Garrison (ISH) finished 10th.

Meanwhile at the Pony international show in Fontainbleau, France, Mayo’s Ciaran Nallon took fourth place in the feature 1m30 Grand Prix riding Dibidoe. The earlier 1m20 Grand Prix saw Ireland fill all three spots on the podium. Robbie Clancy took the winners prize with I’m A Tom Boy, with Abigail Boland in second aboard Little Miss Burberry. Robbie Clancy also finished third with My Castlehill Lass.

At the three-star show in Lummen, Belgium, Tipperary’s Greg Broderick scored a win in a two-phase class aboard Zuidam, while the Irish Sport Horse Millioninmind grabbed a runner-up finish with British rider Joe Clayton.