Top 10 finish for Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and Calmaro in five-star Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event

A flawless clear round inside the time in Sunday’s final Show Jumping phase at the five-star Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in the USA, saw Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and Calmaro claim a hugely impressive ninth place finish against a world class field of competitors.

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and Calmaro (Photo: Irish Eventing Times)

Murphy and Calmaro, whom he owns along with Claire Mayne and Annette O’Callaghan, had scored 35.6 in the opening Dressage phase on Friday and added just 9.6 time penalties in Saturday’s Cross Country. Their foot-perfect Show Jumping round – one of just six clears inside the time, saw them finish on a final score of 45.2 and in ninth place overall.

Speaking afterwards a delighted Joseph Murphy paid tribute to Calmaro’s owners and all the support he received this week.

“It’s pretty amazing. To come all the way here to Kentucky and to produce a result like that was fantastic. I had to really dig deep in the Cross Country. [when they were held up for a period on course] Things didn’t really go my way at the beginning of the course but it was a long way to come to have a problem so we just kept digging and we made it happen. The final Show Jumping was just outstanding, what a horse and what a bunch of owners I have and the support I had here from Horse Sport Ireland. Many thanks to everyone who supported me, all the messages on the phone – we got the result we came for.”

Victory in Kentucky went to Germany’s Michael Jung and Fischerchipmunk FRH on a world record score of 20.1. Jung also became the first-ever four-time winner of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and his winning margin of 11.6 penalties was the largest ever in the competition’s history.

The highest-placed Irish Sport Horse was Dondante who finished in seventh place overall with William Coleman (USA) on a final score of 41.4.

BREEDING

Dondante (ISH) – [was Cooley All Air] – 2010 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Muckno Clover [ISH] by Euro Clover [ISH].
Breeder: Francis Brennan (Monsghan). Rider: William Coleman (USA).