HAVING finished sixth on his debut as a Junior at last year’s Tattersalls International Horse Trials, Alex Power stepped up to win the Kubota-sponsored one-star class last weekend on the German-bred Lakantus.

The Co Kildare combination were the last of 35 to appear in the Hutton & Meade arena on Thursday and found favour with all three members of the ground jury to top the leaderboard on 41.50 penalties, taking over from Izzy Riley and Ballycarron Lad who, just three tests earlier, had gone to the front (44).

As usual, the organisers kindly fitted in those competitors who were sitting exams on Thursday and Friday so the Junior and Pony riders tackled Ian Stark’s cross-country course in four mixed groups on Friday morning.

The Juniors had very few problems over the fixed fences with just Danielle Magner (Woodfield Boomerang) and Harriet Pele (Drumcill Grey Ambition) picking up 20 jumping penalties apiece at the brush skinny first element of the Kiltinan Castle water, while Anna Lyons was similarly penalised when Rafa glanced off the third element of the Irish Horse Gateway water at 16.

Woodfield Boomerang was withdrawn from the holding box before Saturday’s concluding show jumping phase where just seven of the remaining 34 combinations jumped clear within the time.

Competing out of order, Power produced one of these clears on the 14-year-old Coevers Diamond Boy mare Millridge Cara (who was repatriated from Italy by Janet Murray) which saw them move up from seventh to fourth as they completed on their dressage score of 48.30.

Stephaanie Stammschroer, who also had two rides in the class, jumped clear on Tullabeg Horizon and they too completed on their first phase score (49.20) to finish fifth having been ninth overnight.

Sadly for Arianne Finlay (Eluna), Maresa Ronan (Super Jumbo) and Sofie Walshe (Kinsau), they all picked up eight show jumping penalties to drop down the order, while a clear from Katie Riley and Versace Biscuit, who were in fourth, put the pressure on those ahead of them.

Lying third on their flat work mark of 45.70, Mary Smiddy and Silken Scully were fortunate to leave the Dublin Horse Show oxer at two intact but luck deserted them at the oxer over the water tray at four and they dropped down to sixth.

Izzy Riley also picked up four penalties when Ballycarron Lad lowered the first element of the double at five and the Newtownards rider dropped behind her sister when completing on 48. The big-jumping Lakantus never looked like touching a pole and, while a single time penalty lessened his margin of victory, Power was a comfortable winner on 42.50.

The 17-year-old, who will be going into sixth year at Newbridge College at the end of the summer, was delighted with this success especially as Lakantus only had his first eventing start, at EI90 level, at Ballinamona last July.

“He wasn’t fazed at all by the cross-country course, while the mare, who is far more experienced, was a little bit spooky,” commented Power. “Lakantus is very relaxed about everything he does but as he is only seven, I wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on him to make the European team. I’m very lucky that I have two good horses!”

Power, who used to be “quite good at soccer” has no time for any sport outside horses these days as, when not working with his eventers, he can be found helping the O’Callaghan family with their thoroughbreds at Yeomanstown Stud.

“I very much enjoyed working with the breezers (two-year-olds) going to the sales.”

It was great to see the Riley sisters embrace one another after their second and third-place finishes, their mother Sarah saying that the pair had worked very hard all winter at their dressage.