WITH two international fixtures on the calendar this year instead of the traditional single event, 2026 promises to be a landmark season for the Green Glens Arena. Despite taking place slightly earlier in the year and featuring only short-format classes, the opening week at Millstreet lost none of its quality, attracting a strong field of competitors from across the sport. Challenging recent weather conditions created difficulties for the organising team in the lead-up, but credit must go to all involved as both the Green Glens Arena and Drishane Castle were once again presented to their usual high standard.

The Noel C. Duggan Structural Steel CCI4*-S produced an international finish headed by New Zealand star Jonelle Price and the classy grey Senor Crocodillo, who delivered the only sub-40 finishing score of the competition. The 12-year-old gelding, owned by the rider, Alexander Giannamore and Joseph Giannamore, has two top-15 finishes at CCI5*-L level last year at Pau and Luhmuhlen and was already listed among New Zealand’s FEI-qualified championship combinations prior to this weekend’s victory.

Price and Senor Crocodillo were the quickest combination around the Mike Etherington Smith-designed cross-country course, adding only 6.8 time penalties and followed this up with a clear round on the final day to maintain their overnight lead. “He completed two five-stars last season, so this year we wanted to target some of the premier four-star shorts, and that was a major reason for coming to Millstreet,” said a delighted Price.

“I’m really pleased with Senor Crocodillo - he produced a mistake-free dressage test and two excellent jumping rounds, so for his first major outing of the season, it’s a very positive start.” Speaking about returning to Millstreet, Price added: “We know exactly what we’re getting here - an amazing venue and proper cross-country courses. It was obviously unfortunate that the weather made conditions more challenging, but I think the Ground Jury made the right decision to shorten the track, and I’m just really pleased with how Senor Crocodillo performed.”

While Price’s polished jumping performances proved decisive, Irish riders Sarah Ennis and Sian Coleman ensured strong home representation on the podium after an influential final day in Cork. Ennis and the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Dourough Ferro Class Act, were in third place after dressage on a score of 32.4 penalties. Renowned for her speed across country, Ennis unsurprisingly guided the gelding around the track with the second-fastest time of the day, adding 9.6 time penalties to their dressage score and moving into overnight second place after two phases. A pole down at the first part of the treble combination added four penalties, but a finishing score of 46.0 penalties was enough to see them retain their second place on the podium.

Bred by Gordon Drury, Ennis and Dourough Ferro Class Act have surely put their name in contention for a place at this year’s FEI World Championships in Aachen later this summer.

Climbing the leaderboard

Sian Coleman and Gian Heaps’ homebred Carrowgar Je Taime Max will be pleased with this outing as part of their preparations for next month’s Luhmühlen CCI5*-L. Sitting inside the top 10 after the first phase, the 13-year-old gelding by Je T’aime Flamenco was quick cross-country and added only one pole in the final phase to take third place on the podium.

The only other Irish combination joining Coleman at Luhmulhen, Dominic Furnell and Ivanhoe, climbed the leaderboard from 24th place after dressage to finish just outside the top 10 in 11th overall, jumping one of only six clear rounds in the show jumping arena.

Sam Watson’s fourth place finish with the eight-year-old Ballybolger Goldman is one of the standout results from the weekend’s action. Owned by Hannah Watson and Lesley Crampton, the gelding looked every inch a future championship prospect on his first attempt at the level. Jonelle Price and Grappa Nerra finished in fifth place and Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and Calmaro rounded out the top six with a clear round on the final day.

Godfrey Gibbons and Ballyvillane OBOS (ISH), impressed the Ground Jury to lead the field after the first phase on a score of 31 penalties. They added 20 time penalties on the cross-country course and a pole down in the show jumping, resulting in a 10th place finish.

John Tilley (GBR) and Licence to Cooley (KWPN) were another to add time faults in the cross-country, which dropped them from second after the first phase to finish in seventh in the overall standings.