Horse Sport Ireland Autumn Development Series 2020 – Arena Eventing 2021

The first of the final two legs of the Horse Sport Ireland Autumn Development Series 2020 took place last Sunday, 14th March in Wexford Equestrian Centre. This event was due to take place at the end of 2020, however, due to Covid-19 restrictions it was postponed until this spring.

Arena Eventing

The Arena Eventing series, featuring 5, 6 and 7-year-old classes, saw great competition from High-Performance athletes and Professional Producers and their up-and-coming young horses. The event was a great first competition of the year allowing these young horses to gain vital experience for the season ahead.

The seven-year-old class saw victory go to Ian Cassells & the Gerry Leahy owned, Millridge Atlantis (ISH), an Irish Sport Horse (ISH) by Dinan Cascaletto (ISH) out of Kereen Sue (ISH), bred by Sean O’Loughlin, Co. Kilkenny. Cassells jumped a perfect double clear to finish on his dressage score of 32.75. Cassells had three mounts in the field of 17 starters and managed to claim a further two of the top five placings. Cassells & Gorsehill Amy (ISH) took third place on a score of 34.75 after one pole down in the show jumping phase, and also claimed fifth place with Killalone Tess (ISH), finishing on their dressage score of 36.25.  Filling in second place was Michael McNally and his own Port Sunshine, on a score of 34.25, and fourth place went to Michael Ryan & Claragh Olala (ISH).

HSI Autumn Dev. Series AE110 winner – Ian Cassells (Millridge Atlantis). Photo: Bit-Media

The six-year-old class attracted 24 competitors with 10 combinations producing double clear rounds. The spoils went to Christine O’Donnell and her own BGK Valentine, a Traditional Bred Irish Sport Horse, bred by Michael O’Driscoll, from Co. Cork. BGK Valentine is by the thoroughbred stallion, Craigsteel (TB), out of Drimo Donn (ISH)[TIH] by Clover Dubh (ID). Leading from start to finish, O’Donnell scored the only sub 30 dressage test in the class and adding one pole down in the jumping phase did not affect her winning result. Second and third place went to Patrick Whelan with Altitu (ISH)(owned by Whelan and bred by Seamus Carew), and Piltown Obos (ISH)(owned by Ciaran Moran and bred by Patrick Doody), respectively.

HSI Autumn Dev. Series AE100 winner – Christine O Donnell (BGK Valentine). Photo: Bit-Media

The largest field of the day with 30 starters was the five-year-old class. Half of the field produced double clear rounds. Felicity Ward and EPA Endeavour (ISH), topped the field on a score of 23.5. EPA Endeavour (ISH), by Orestus (KWPN) out of Leafy Hollow (ISH)[TIH] by Dock Leaf (TB), is owned by Ward & Elizabeth Ahern and bred by Jim O’Connell. Right on Ward’s tail, finishing on the same dressage mark of 23.5, was Michael Ryan and Claragh Road (ISH), owned by Nicholas Pomeroy and bred by Michael Byrne. One point behind the leaders in third place was Amanda Goldsbury, with the Hans Juregen Kuehnle owned and bred, Tullibards Nobody Knows (ISH).

HSI Autumn Dev. Series AE90 winner – Felicity Ward (EPA Endeavour). Photo: Bit-Media

Highlights Programme

The highlights from each class were streamed on the Monday evening following the event on the Horse Sport Ireland website. Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, spectators are not allowed to attend these events to watch the action. The highlights programme, supported by TRM and brought to us by Bit-Media, provided the athletes with additional knowledge from the expert panel of commentators. The coverage of all three classes featured live commentary from Chris Ryan with three guest commentators. High-Performance Eventing Manager, Sally Corscadden, joined Chris Ryan for the seven-year-old class, High-Performance event rider Sian Coleman gave her views on the six-year-old class and industry expert William Micklem discussed the performance of the five-year-old class.

Next Up

Next weekend, the final leg of Arena Eventing, part of the Horse Sport Ireland Autumn Development Series 2020, will take place in Barnadown Showjumping on Sunday 21st March. Entries close, noon, Wednesday 17^th March, www.eventingireland.com. The highlights programme will take place on the following Monday evening with another panel of guest commentators joining Chris Ryan to discuss the exciting young horses. Tune in on www.horsesportireland.ie at 7pm. In addition to the embedded player on the Horse Sport Ireland website, ClipMyHorse.TV Great Britain simulcast the stream to their subscribers around the world – all individual rounds of every competitor are also available to watch ‘on demand.’

Breeding Details:

Seven-year-old Results:

1^st: Millridge Atlantis (ISH) – 2014 Grey Gelding by Dinan Cascaletto (ISH) out of Kereen Sue (ISH) by Warrenstown You 2 (ISH). Breeder: Sean O’Loughlin, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Gerry Leahy.

2^nd: Port Sunshine (TB) – 2014 Bay Gelding by Urban Poet (TB) out of Barranndee (TB). Owner: Michael McNally. Breeder: Donal Brazil.

3^rd: Gorsehill Amy (ISH) 2014 Bay Mare by Chippison (ISH) out of Gorsehill Magic (ISH) by Master Imp (TB). Breeder & Owner: Anne Bannon, Co. Wicklow.

Six-year-old Results:

1^st: BGK Valentine (ISH)[TIH] – 2015 Bay Gelding by Craigsteel (TB) out of Drimo Donn (ISH) by Clover Dubh (ID). Breeder: Michael O’Driscoll, Co. Cork. Owner: Christine O’Donnell.

2^nd: Altitu (ISH) – 2015 Bay Gelding by Orestus (KWPN) out of Happy Choice (SWB) by Aram (KWPN). Breeder: Seamus Carew, Co. Tipperary. Owner: Patrick Whelan.

3^rd: Piltown Obos (ISH) – 2015 Bay Gelding by O.B.O.S Quality 004 (OLD) out of Piltown Cult (ISH)[TIH] by Cult Hero (TB)(CAN). Breeder: Patrick Doody, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Ciaran Moran.

Five-year-old Results:

1^st: EPA Endeavour (ISH) – 2016 Brown Gelding by Orestus (KWPN) out of Leafy Hollow (ISH)[TIH] by Dock Leaf (TB). Breeder: Jim O’Connell Owner: Felicity Ward and Elizabeth Ahern.

2^nd: Claragh Road (ISH) – 2016 Bay Gelding by Cavalier Land (ISH) out of Aldatus Gypsey (ISH) by Aldatus Z (OLD). Breeder: Michael Byrne, Co. Wicklow. Owner: Nicholas Pomeroy.

3^rd: Tullibards Nobody Knows (ISH) – 2016 Chestnut Mare by Tullibards Bennys Legacy (OLD) out of Tullibards Hot Shot (ISH) by Cruisings Mikey Finn (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder & Owner: Hans Jurgen Kuehnle.