Padraig McCarthy and Clare Abbott lead Irish charge after opening day of Badminton Horse Trials

  • 2 May 2019, 18:17

Two Irish riders lie just outside the top 10 following today’s (Thursday) opening day of Dressage at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in the UK, with Padraig McCarthy and Mr Chunky in 11th place, just ahead of Clare Abbott and Euro Prince who lie in joint 12th.

McCarthy (41) and Mr Chunky, were part of the silver medal winning Irish team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and they made an impressive Badminton debut last year when finishing eighth overall. A score of 31.2 penalties in today’s Dressage leaves the Tipperary native nicely poised to challenge for another top 10 finish, with Cross Country to come on Saturday followed by Show Jumping on Sunday.

Clare Abbott and Euro Prince (ISH) are also well-positioned in equal 12th place following a score of 31.4 penalties. Michael Ryan and Dunlough Striker (ISH) are next best of the Irish in 24th on 36.7, while Joseph Murphy and Sportsfield Othello (ISH) are in 28th on 38.4. Ciaran Glynn and November Night (ISH)(TIH) scored 39.7 and lie in equal 33rd, while Jim Newsam is in 38th with Magennis (ISH) following a score of 41.1.

Britain’s Oliver Townend holds the overnight lead on a score of 19.7 with the Irish Sport Horse Cillnabradden Evo, who was bred in Co Meath by Tom and Orla Holden.

A further 40 competitors will complete their Dressage tests on Friday before Saturday’s crucial Cross Country phase takes place over Badminton’s demanding course of obstacles.

Speaking this week about the course, Irish Eventing team manager Sally Corscadden said:

“Eric Winter, designer of the cross country course, describes this year’s track as being “different to what we’ve previously seen” and different it certainly is. It’s an innovative track is sure to test the athlete’s Cross Country riding and I am very much looking forward to seeing how our Irish athletes will answer the questions being asked of them.”

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