Top ten finish for McCarthy at Le Lion

Irish Sport Horses shine at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses

Padraig McCarthy and MGH Zabaione (ISH) were the highest placed Irish combination in the 7-year-olds. Photo: Irish Eventing Times

Padraig McCarthy was the highest placed Irish rider in the 7-year-old division at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses in Le Lion D’Angers, France. Riding the Irish Sport Horse gelding MGH Zabaione, owned in partnership between McCarthy and Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell, he finished on a score of 32.4 for ninth place.

Victory in the 7-year-olds went to the home nation with Thomas Carile and Golden De Beliard on a score of 28.3, Belgium finished second with Lara De Liedekerke–Meier on 28.4,  and Astier Nicolas completed the podium for France on 28.7.

The highest placed Irish Sport Horse in the class was Cooley Mosstown, ridden by Caroline Harris for Great Britain, with this combination finishing on their dressage score of 28.9 for fourth place.

Georgie Goss finished just outside the top ten with Sligo Just Touch (ISH), in 12^th place on 32.5. An unfortunate fence down in the final phase for Ian Cassells and Millridge Athos, dropped him from ninth to 16^th.

Clare Abbott with Drumnaconnell Kobie (ISH), Suzanne Hagan with Loughview Commander (ISH) and Sara Glynn with Granny Jeans Unicorn (ISH) all finished inside the top 30.

Heidi Hamilton riding The Sequel (DSP), Alyssa O’Neill riding Danos Lola (ISH) and Sian Coleman riding Kilroe Frolic (ISH) all finished inside the top 50.

Ian Cassells riding Millridge Athos in action on the cross country at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers. Photo: Irish Eventing Times

6-Year-Old Class

Having shown excellent form all season, including winning the HSI Eventing Studbook Series for 6-year-olds, it was no surprise that Steven Smith and Strangeford (ISH), owned by Terry Johnson were the highest-placed Irish combination.

The pair finished one second over the time in Saturday’s cross country and the same in Sunday’s show jumping, adding a total of 0.8 penalties to their dressage score of 33.2 to finish in 14^th.

Cassells and Greenogue Gigi (ISH), owned by Con McCarthy, finished in 19^th on 36.0, only adding 0.8 time penalties in the show jumping phase to their dressage score.

Time penalties picked up cross country for Coleman and the Kate Jarvey-owned and bred Diamond Mistress (ISH) proved costly dropping this combination from 17^th after dressage to 30^th after cross country. However, a clear show jumping with 2.0 time penalties moved them back up to finish in 25^th place.

Izzy Taylor claimed victory for Great Britain with Barrington Alice on a score of 26.9, Stephane Landois for France was second and New Zealand’s Amanda Goldsbury riding Cooley On Ice were third.

Steven Smith riding Strangford (ISH) were the highest placed Irish combination in the 6-year-old class. Photo: Irish Eventing Times

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)

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).

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).

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).

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).

Granny Jeans Unicorn (ISH) – 2016 mare by Jack Of Diamonds (SWB) out of Killossery Ringwood (ISH) by Touchdown (ISH). Breeder: Sara Glynn. Owner: Laura and Sara Glynn. Rider: Sara Glynn (IRL).

The Sequel (DSP) – 2016 gelding by Conthargos (OS) out of Juanita (LVBAY) by Asih (BAVAR). Breeder: U Hans von Scheni. Owner and rider: Heidi Hamilton (IRL).

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).

Kilroe Frolic (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Cavalier Land (ISH) out of Malibiues Dancer (ISH) by O.B.O.S. Quality 004 (OLD). Breeder: Sean Barron. Owner: Maurice Coleman. Rider: Sian Coleman (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.