“IT was a good learning trip with a lot of encouraging performances by our younger riders,” said Janet Murray, chef d’equipe to the Irish team at last week’s World breeding championships for young horses in Le Lion d’Angers.

“Some of our senior riders had a disappointing time and it was particularly so for Sophie Richards who just made one of those errors on the cross-country that takes so long for you to get over. She put her head down and galloped after jumping the third last, the spider, and just went the wrong way at the next.

“The cross-country fences were beautifully presented and rode well. The tracks were typical of Pierre Michelet and, as I predicted when talking to you before the event, the fence which caused most problems was the cottage to angled hedges on the seven-year-old course. However, Edie Murray-Hayden went the long way here with Caesars Gold and still managed to get home within the time.

“There was a new show jumping course designer this year, Jacques Affouard, and this phase caused more problems than usual as he built real show jumpers’ tracks. Ciara Power had a fence down and picked up a time penalty with Poynstown Will in the seven-year-old class but she was delighted with her weekend. She competed at Le Lion in 2010 with Stonehavens Another Prince and had been determined to get back.”

As anticipated by Murray, there were few problems on the course-country phase in the CCI* for six-year-olds won by Australia’s Chris Burton, who completed on his dressage score of 44.2 with the Swedish-owned Fire Fly (KWPN). Germany’s Kai-Steffen Meier led after dressage and cross-country on Painter’s Maxim (40.3) but, with eight show jumping penalties, dropped to fourth.

Best of the Irish for the second year running, but this time finishing seventh, was Sophie Richards who has had the mount on Business Class since joint-owner Brianne Stanley handed over the ride during the summer. The pair completed on their flat work mark of 51.1 which had them lying 14th after dressage.

Stanley, accompanied by partner and joint-owner Gary Hadden, was delighted with the performance of their Harlequin du Carel gelding. “This is my favourite event,” said Stanley, “and while I often thought I’d be here riding the horse, I don’t think I would have done as good a job as Sophie, she was fantastic!

“It was great too that it wasn’t just a dressage competition this year as there were a few problems across the country and you really needed to be good at show jumping, which is where Sophie really shines.

“I’ve always loved this horse but he is now on the market and I hope he finds a really good home. His dam, Moxella, who is owned by Gary’s dad Don, is still alive and we will be retaining her yearling filly by Kannan. We are also breeding out of Moxella’s eight-year-old daughter Bit Of Business (by Ars Vivendi).”

Originally from Texas, Stanley was delighted to meet up with the American riders and their supporters.

“It involved a lot of effort for them to get here, especially those from California, and it was a great education experience for them.”

Just failing to make a tighter turn to the final show jump cost Harold Megahey three placings as he picked up two time penalties for a completion score of 53.4 with Cornascriebe Glenpatrick, who is now heading to the Go For Gold sale.

Elizabeth Hayden didn’t have the best of starts when, riding her test following the first break in the six-year-old class on Friday morning, there were miscommunication problems which resulted in her being penalised two points for a late entry into the arena.

However, it’s testament to the Co Kildare rider that she put that disappointment behind her and put in an excellent cross-country clear with DSL The Professor the next day. A fence down show jumping saw the pair complete in 26th place on a total of 62.1.