Coleman and Hush A Bye Baby imperious in Ballindenisk feature

010 Sian Coleman with Hush A Bye Baby
Winner: NutriScience CCI4*-L
Ballindenisk International (2)

The final international event on home soil took place at Ballindenisk, Co Cork with victory in the NutriScience CCI4*-L going to local rider Sian Coleman and the Irish Sport Horse Hush A Bye Baby.

The 10-year-old mare is owned and bred by Kate Jarvey and this combination previously won the Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored CCI4*-L in Millstreet International in August 2022.

Co. Cork’s Coleman was the only rider of the 11 finishers not to add to her dressage score. The weather certainly played its part as conditions proved far from ideal over the weekend despite the best efforts from the organisers.

Time penalties cross-country were common with most riders coming home significantly over the optimum time. Aside from Coleman, Elizabeth Power was one of the few riders to get close to the time of 10 minutes 22 seconds, coming home just two seconds over.

Ireland’s Patrick Whelan and Daragh Byrne, and Great Britain’s Sarah Gardiner also posted quick cross-country rounds.

The final show jumping phase on Sunday also impacted the leaderboard. Once again, Coleman was the only rider not to have a fence down, putting her on a finishing score of 32.6 penalties. Whelan finished second with Denis Finch Hatton (ISH)[TIH] on 41.1 and dressage leader Georgie Goss and Feloupe were third on 47.4.

Speaking to HSI after her victory Coleman said: “I’m delighted with Hush a Bye Baby’s win this weekend. It was tough conditions, but she felt super in all three phases.

“Her owner/breeder Kate Jarvey was in tears seeing her favourite mare at the top of the leaderboard at another CCI4*, which we all know isn’t an easy feat.

“It’s very special for me too as I’ve had her since she was a three-year-old and we have such a great partnership. We’re looking forward to taking her to some exciting places next year.”

In the Cameron Kiernan Landscaping Ltd CCI3*-L Georgie Goss topped the podium for Ireland riding Kojak, finishing on their dressage score of 30.2. The eight-year-old is owned in partnership between Goss and Molly Fisher, Lucy Fleming and Samantha Wilson.

Great Britain’s Sam Ecroyd was second with the Irish Sport Horse Chapel House, bred in Co Kerry by John O’Sullivan. New Zealand’s Caroline Powell completed the podium with Legally Grey (ISH). The eight-year-old gelding was bred by Declan Daly from Co Cork.

Irish athletes dominated in the Southern Fuel & Farm Supplies Ltd CCI2*-L, filling all bar two of the top ten placings. Sisters Niamh Tottenham and Sarah Ennis were two marks apart after the first phase, Ennis leading with the Deirdre Connolly owned and bred OnceUponATime (ISH) and Tottenham hot on her heels with Slieve Callan Gael (ISH).

Cross-country didn’t change the top of the leaderboard, however, one fence down for Ennis in the final phase gave Tottenham the win with her homebred Irish Sport Horse. The six-year-old gelding is by Tyson (KWPN) and out of the Irish Sport Horse mare GI Miz Minx.

Elizabeth Power completed the all-Irish podium with the six-year-old Irish Sport Horse Dassett Fortune, owned by Therese Miller.

Short Format Classes

Victory in the NutriScience CCI4*-S went to Powell, once again riding an Irish Sport Horse – Greenacres Special Cavalier. The now 10-year-old mare was bred by Michael Callery from Co Meath.

The heavy rain on Sunday meant that time penalties cross-country were the most influential on the leaderboard. Dressage leader Clare Abbott and Jewelent (ISH), owned by Lisa Rosbotham, finished second, adding 18.8 time penalties.

Ennis posted the quickest cross-country round of the class with Grantstown Jackson, owned by Susanna Francke and Peter Cole, to finish third.

Emily King won the CCI3*-S, sponsored by Cameron Kiernan Landscaping Ltd, riding Maserati De Landetta Z. Ecroyd was second with Boleybawn LeCrae (ISH), bred by Boleybawn Horses Ltd and now owned by Stewart and Vicki Irlam.

Ben Connors was best of the Irish athletes finishing in third place with OLS Queen Bee (ISH). The 10-year-old mare is owned by Michelle Nelson and was bred by Kieran Connors, she is out of Just Beauty Queen (ISH) and by Luidam (KWPN).

Ian Cassells won the Southern Fuel & Farm Supplies Ltd CCI2*-S with Con McCarthy’s Greenogue Gigi. Cassells was the only rider not to add time penalties cross-country to his dressage score.

Second place went to Emma Newsam and the Irish Sport Horse Magennis. This result was somewhat bittersweet as it marks the retirement of the 21-year-old gelding. He has competed to the highest level of the sport including multiple five-stars, European Championships and several Nations Cups.