Coleman and Cassells best of the Irish after dressage in Le Lion

Sian Coleman riding Diamond Mistress (ISH). Photo: Irish Eventing Times

Sian Coleman and Ian Cassells both sit inside the top 20 in the six- and seven-year-old classes at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses 

Dressage is now complete at the 2023 FEI WBFSH World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses taking place in Le Lion D’Angers this week. Despite the less than favourable weather conditions on the opening day of competition, Irish athletes and Irish-bred horses are off to a strong start.

Cork-based rider Sian Coleman sits inside the top 20 in the six-year-old class with Diamond Mistress (ISH). The Kate Jarvey owned and bred mare scored 31.6 to hold 17^th place after the opening phase, she is also the highest place Irish Sport Horse after dressage. British rider Mollie Summerland topped the leaderboard scoring 25.1 with Mojo.

Steven Smith and Strangford (ISH), owned by Terry Johnson, are in 25^th place on 33.2 and Ian Cassells and Con McCarthy’s Greenogue Gigi (ISH) are on 35.2 in 34^th position.

In the seven-year-old division Cassells is best of the Irish athletes, scoring 30.7 with Gerry Leahy’s Millridge Athos (ISH) to sit in equal 17^th. As the second last rider into the arena on Friday afternoon Padraig McCarthy delivered a lovely test with MGH Zabaione (ISH) for a score of 30.8 for 20^th place. The gelding is owned in partnership between McCarthy and Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell.

Clare Abbott and Drumnaconnell Kobie (ISH), owned by Laurence Patterson, score 32.1 to sit in 28^th. Georgie Goss and Sligo Just Touch (ISH), owned in partnership between Molly Fisher and Lucy Fleming sit inside the top 30 on 32.5.

The highest placed Irish Sport Horse in the section is Cooley Mosstown (ISH) ridden by Caroline Harris for Great Britian, who are in seventh place on a score of 28.9 heading into cross-country. French rider Nicolas Touzaint and Gauguin Du Busson hold the top position on 23.5.

Sitting just inside the top 50, but still within less than 10 marks of the dressage leaders are Suzanne Hagan and Loughview Commander (ISH) and Alyssa O’Neill and Danos Lola (ISH).

Cross-country takes place tomorrow, Saturday 21^st of October. A livestream will be available via the Horse Sport Ireland Facebook page. The action concludes with the show jumping phase on Sunday, 22^nd of October.

Click here for dressage results and live scores.

Breeding:

Six-Year-Olds:

Diamond Mistress (ISH) – 2017 mare by Diarado (HOLST) out of Shes My Master (ISH) by Master Imp (TB). Breeder and owner: Kate Jarvey. Rider: Sian Coleman (IRL)

Greenogue Gigi (ISH) – 2017 mare by Je T’aime Flamenco (BWP) out of Quita (ISH) by Dow Jones Courcel (SF). Breeder: Con McCarthy. Owner: Lucy McCarthy. Rider: Ian Cassells (IRL).

Strangford (ISH) – 2017 gelding by Luidam (KWPN) out of Templepatrick Dara Bay (ISH)(TIH) by Cruisings Micky Finn (ISH)(TIH). Breeder: Dorothea Wilson. Owner: Terry Johnston. Rider: Stephen Smith (IRL).

Seven-Year-Olds:

Cooley Mosstown (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Celtic Hero B Z (ZANG) out of Rabaila (HOLST) by Riverman (HOLST). Breeder: David Harrison, Co Longford. Owner: Karen Dunford, Dinah Posford and Gail Sinclair. Rider: Caroline Harris (GBR)

Danos Lola (ISH) – 2016 mare by Carrera Vdl (KWPN) out of Abigail Cruise (ISH)(TIH) by Cruising (ISH)(TIH). Breeder: Julie Dennehy. Owner and rider: Alyssa O’Neill (IRL).

Drumnaconnell Kobie (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Road To Happiness (TB) out of Kings Jewel (ISH) by Kings Master (ISH). Breeder and owner: Lawrence Patterson. Rider: Clare Abbott (IRL).

Loughview Commander (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Cobra (HOLST) out of Loughview La La (ISH) by Limmerick (HOLST). Breeder: Judith Sossick. Owner and rider: Suzanne Hagan (IRL).

MGH Zabaione (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Zavall Vdl (KWPN) out of Viancara VDL (KWPN) by Acobat II (HOLST). Breeder: Padraig McCarthy. Owner: Diane Brunsden, Peter Cattell And Padraig McCarthy. Rider: Padraig McCarthy (IRL).

Millridge Athos (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Grand Gayle (TB) out of Out Of Touch Blue Moon (ISH) by Out Of Touch (ISH). Breeder: Kieran Savage. Owner: Gerry Leahy. Rider: Ian Cassels (IRL).

Sligo Just Touch (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) out of Sligo Landgraf Touch (ISH) by Touchdown (ISH). Breeder: Padraig Howley. Owner: Molly Fisher and Lucy Flemming. Rider: Georgie Goss (IRL).

Irish studbooks participation in Le Lion D’Angers is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under National Breeding Services.

Irish athletes competing at Le Lion are kindly supported by Bucas Ireland, Bluegrass and Jani Bars.