IRISH riders enjoyed an outstanding run over the opening days of the CSI2* Balmoral Show, winning every international class on Wednesday and Thursday. However, it was the British riders who dominated the closing competitions on Friday. This year’s show included six international competitions and boasted a prize fund of over €55,000.

In the feature event, the 1.45m CAB Group and Dunlop Homes CSI2* International Grand Prix supported by Bottlegreen, Joe Fernyhough guided Calcourt Countdown to victory. Meanwhile, James Smith partnered Juno Rose 23 to top the CRL International 1.40m Speed Challenge. Smith was also crowned the International leading rider.

Joe Fernyhough is the son of Rowland and Ali Fernyhough. Rowland is an international show jumper with countless wins to his name, while Ali has multiple showing and working hunter championship wins from the UK’s most prestigious events. Joe is the Calcourt Equestrian competition rider; an Under-25 National Champion who has been recognised for his talents, featuring on the Podium Potential Pathway Programme and as part of numerous Nations Cup teams.

Calcourt Countdown is a 10-year-old mare by Westpoint Quickfire and has multiple 1.45m wins to her name, despite only jumping her first British Novice in 2022. At Lier CSI2*, they took a win in the 1.35m, second in the 1.35m, as well as third and fourth in the 1.40m.

Grand Prix

On Friday afternoon, 38 combinations battled it out over the Colm Quinn-designed course in the 1.45m CAB Group and Dunlop Homes CSI2* International Grand Prix. Of the original starters, six proceeded to the second round and five double clears were delivered. The competition went down to the wire, with the top three riders coming home within 40 seconds. Time was certainly a factor in the first round, with three riders failing to make the jump-off due to time faults. Rebecca Marsh (GBR) and Stevie G incurred one time fault, Max Foley (HHS Kingston) two time faults and Dermott Lennon (Kinmar Right On Time) three time faults.

First to go, Sligo’s Richard Howley and Hornet des Granges set the bar high when they delivered a clear in a time of 39.46. They set off strongly and got a very tight line from the narrow vertical at three back to the black and white vertical at four. He then took a tight line to the double and back to the final oxer. This put him into the lead, but would later prove good enough for third. This combination has been in form of late, claiming third in the 1.45m at Chepstow CSI2* at the start of the month. Hornet des Granges is a nine-year-old stallion, by Cornet Obolensky and out of Venette Du Loc H.

The winner in 2024, Francis Derwin, and Parvati Aeg were next to take it on. Derwin provided a masterclass on keeping tight lines to the verticals and opted to take a longer line to the strong double, a vertical in and an oxer out. They were fractions behind the winner, with a clear in 39.30.

Defending Champion with Express Trend, Jessica Burke this time took it on with Brian McConville’s eight-year-old mare BWE Windsor. Burke delivered a calculated round, but just wasn’t as fast across the ground and crossed the line in 43.65 for eventual fourth.

Young rider Katie Nallon and Carnlea Flamenco took fifth when they kept all the poles in place in 46.93. Nallon was tight back from one to two and then on to the vertical across the arena at three. She opted to take the wider line to the blue oxer at the hospitality marquee and then the longer line to the double, crossing the line in 46.93 for fifth place. This very talented eight-year-old mare was bred by Edward Little and is owned by Bob Sweeney. An Irish Sport Horse, she is by Je T’Aime Flamenco and out of Kildowney Star. This combination has only recently moved up to this level and they have done it with ease, claiming fifth place in the 1.40m Grand Prix in Millstreet at the start of the month.

Next up, Joe Fernyhough knew what to do as he took it on with Calcourt Countdown. He certainly meant business from the start, taking a tight line from one to two to three. He got a good turn back to the double and took a check to the last oxer, crossing the line in 39.13 to claim victory.

Last to go, Harrison Blair with the Rockmount Farms-owned L’Esprit Hero Z hesitated at the first part of the double and fell at the second part, which saw them out of contention. Both horse and rider left the arena on their feet and they took sixth place.

Speed Challenge

Earlier in the day, James Smith and Juno Rose 23 took the CRL International 1.40m Speed Challenge class when they galloped home in a time of 58.05. Winner of the two-phase class on Thursday, Jason Foley tried hard to secure another win with Origi van de Bandam, but despite a series of good turns, their time of 58.62 proved only good enough for second place.

Jason was chased home by his brother Max Foley and Illusion de Hus, who kept all the poles in place in 59.25. Sean Monaghan and Chef Of Flanders Fields Z clocked the fastest time of 57.98, but four faults added four penalties to their time (61.98) for fourth place. A clear from Dermott Lennon and Lord of the Rings BMH in 62.41 saw them take fifth. Niamh McEvoy, returned to the line-up to take sixth with Boleybawn Alvaro, with a clear in 63.75.