Irish Sport Horses fill all of top seven places after Badminton Cross Country with Clare Abbott best of Irish riders

Irish Sport Horses dominate the leaderboard following today’s (Saturday) Cross Country phase at Badminton Horse Trials in the UK and incredibly fill all of the top seven places.

Ballaghmor Class (ISH), bred by Noel Hickey in Co Limerick, leads the way with Britain’s Oliver Townend on a score of 21.5. Vanir Kamira (ISH), bred by Kathryn Jackson in Co Monaghan, is in second with Piggy French (GBR) on 26.8, while Graf Liberty (ISH), bred by Brian Livingstone, is in third with Christopher Burton (AUS) on 27.7.

Co Down’s Clare Abbott is the highest placed Irish rider and lies in an impressive 12th place with The Irish Sport Horse Euro Prince after a super clear jumping round Cross Country where they added just 10.8 time penalties to leave them on a score of 42.2. Padraig McCarthy and Mr Chunky are next best in 19th spot. They picked up 11 penalties for a frangible pin in the Huntsman Close at the latter end of the course, and added just 3.2 time penalties to leave them on a score of 45.4.

An excellent round from Ciaran Glynn and November Night (ISH)(TIH) where they jumped clear and added just 6 time penalties, saw them rise a massive 46 places and now sit in 20th on 45.7. Michael Ryan and Dunlough Striker (ISH) also climbed the leaderboard following a clear round with 13.6 time penalties and they are in 26th place on 50.3. Jim Newsam and Magennis (ISH) added only time penalties to their Dressage score and are now in 43rd on 64.3

The final Cross Country phase at Badminton Horse Trials takes place on Sunday.

BREEDING
1st Ballaghmor Class (ISH) – 2007 gelding Courage II (HOLST) out of Kilderry Place (ISH). Breeder: Noel Hickey (Limerick). Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR)

2nd Vanir Kamira (ISH) – 2005 mare by Camiro De Haar Z (ZANG) out of Fair Caledonian (WNTR) by Dixi (TB). Breeder: Kathryn Jackson (Monaghan). Rider: Piggy French (GBR)

3rd Graf Liberty (ISH) by Limmerick (HOLST) out of Lisheen Star (ISH). Damsire: Cavalier Royale.
Breeder: Brian Livingstone. Rider: Christopher Burton (AUS).

4th Swallow Springs. (ISH) – 2008 gelding by Chillout (ISH) out of Kilila (ISH) by Cult Hero (TB). Breeder: Maria Keating (Galway). Rider: Andrew Nicholson (NZL)

5th Cooley Lands (ISH) – 2008 gelding by Cavalier Land (ISH) out of Clover Light Girl (ISH)(TIH) by Clover Hill (ID). Breeder: Peter Rice (Monaghan). Rider: Christopher Burton (AUS)

6th Ringwood Sky Boy. (ISH) – 2003 gelding by Courage II (HOLST) out of Sky Lassie (ISH) by Sky Boy (TB). Breeder: Myles Mahon (Wexford). Rider: Tim Price (NZL)

7th Cillnabradden Evo (ISH) – 2006 stallion by Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe (KWPN) out of Willow Gardenb [ISH] by King Henry (ID) Breeder: Tom & Orla Holden (Meath). Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR)

12th Euro Prince (ISH) – 2003 gelding by Lougheries Quiet Man (unk) out of Miss Tullydraw (unk). Breeder: Cormac McKay (Armagh). Rider: Clare Abbott (IRL)

20th November Night (ISH) – 2006 mare by Bonnie Prince (TB) out of Coolnalee Kate (ISH), by Flagmount King (ID). Breeder: Pat Doherty, Co. Waterford. Owner: Susanna Franke & Peter Cole. Rider: Ciaran Glynn (IRL)

26th Dunlough Striker (ISH) – 2005 gelding by Maltstriker (KWPN) out of Beau Rua (ISH), by Beau Royale (TB). Breeder: Kevin Nolan (Clare). Rider: Michael Ryan (IRL)

43rd Magennis (ISH) – 2002 bay gelding by Limmerick (HOLST) out of Inishkea (ISH), by Zero Watt
(TB). Bred by Patrick Tiernan, Co. Down. Owner: Jim Newsam & Carole Hawthorne. Rider:
Jim Newsam (IRL)