ANOTHER combination to do the “double” and win at both internationals at Ballindenisk this year was Ciara O’Connor and her mother Sharon’s home-bred, Ashwood Rio (ISH). The junior rider put in a very confident performance across all three phases to secure CCI2*-L victory on the six-year-old by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet (BEWB). Joanne Jarden (IRL) and Paula Geiger (IRL) awarded a score of 28.3 penalties to O’Connor, leaving her in second place after dressage, combined with two faultless jumping rounds meant that she remained on that score and added another international win to her belt.

“We bred him and have done everything with him and he’s just so special,” O’Connor said after her win. “He’s finished for the year now, but I’d like to aim him at Le Lion d’Angers for the seven-year-olds next year.”

O’Connor has an affiliation with Cooley Farm, having ridden Cooley Rebound (KWPN) at the Junior Europeans this year to finish in 20th. “I get a lot of help from Richard and Amanda in Cooley Farm, which has been great, I don’t live too far from them.” Her mother Sharon also bred a half-sister to Ashwood Rio, Ashwood Iron Lady, who jumped a double clear with Ciara in the CCI3*-S at the venue too.

Yasmin Olsson-Payne (NOR), who made her senior debut at the recent European Championships, went into the lead after the first phase on a score of 27.7 penalties, but with 3.2 time penalties to add after the cross-country phase, she had to settle for eventual third place on DHI Nango Z (ZANG).

British-based Irish rider Danielle McCormack made her trip a worthwhile one by finishing second on Hildare Trust Me (BWP). The six-year-old owned by Anna Sims Hilditch by El Barone 111 Z (ZANG), won the CCI2*-S at Alnwick earlier in the season. McCormack also steered Hildare Leonidas (SBS) to finish in seventh place in this class, finishing on their dressage score of 33.6 penalties.

CCI2*-S

The CCI2*-S class was won by the talented six-year-old Touch of Cooley (ZANG) and Amanda Goldsbury, their second international victory of the year. The Untouchable 27 (KWPN)-sired mare was bred by Leo Bazelmans and only began her eventing career this season, but has already amassed four wins in her eight starts. Joanne Jarden (IRL) and Paula Geiger (IRL) had the eventual winners tied for the lead with Emily Young Jamieson (GBR) and the Irish Sport Horse OMHS Cooley, on a score of 26.1.

Only eight competitors out of the 34-strong starting list managed to head out onto the cross-country course on their first-phase score. Young Jamieson and OMHS Cooley had two rails down plus time penalties in both jumping phases, which dropped her out of the top 10 in the final standings.

Goldsbury and Touch of Cooley (ZANG) were having their last run before they go to the WBFSH World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses 2025 in Le Lion d’Angers for the six-year-old section. “I bought her from Vinny Duffy as a four-year-old and she jumped in Dublin last year in the fiveyear-old final, but like all our stock, she’s been produced with the future in mind,” said Richard Sheane of Cooley Farm. “Amanda is such a professional and the mare the same, so we are hoping this will set her up nicely for Le Lion d’Angers in a few weeks.”

Maeve Deverell and Annaharvey Dunowen (ISH) produced another polished performance to finish on their dressage score of 26.4 penalties for second place. Deverell and Annaharvey Dunowen have had an incredible season with eight wins on the national circuit and a second place at Lisgarvan International at CCI2*-L level. This combination also represented Ireland at the Children on Horses Dressage Europeans in Kronberg in 2023.

John Tilley (GBR) and Monbeg Crystal Clear (ISH) jumped double clear to finish on their dressage score of 27.1 penalties to take third place. Only a six-year-old, the HHS Cornet (ISH)-sired gelding bred by Miguel Bravo, finished fourth in the CCI1*-Intro class at the spring international at the same venue.