IT was a worthwhile trip to Co Cork for Britain’s Gemma Stevens as she notched up a quick double by taking the victory in the Goresbridge Horse Sales CCI3*-L class with the Irish Sport Horse Cooley Park Muze.

The bay gelding by Pollux De Muze Z, who was bred by TJM Equestrian and is owned by Cooley Farm, had the judges split after the first phase and sat in fourth place.

“I was disappointed with him in the dressage really, he wasn’t quite where I wanted him in the arena,” said Stevens. This combination was the second fastest out on the cross-country course adding 2.8 time penalties. “I was going really quick out on the course and still couldn’t catch the time but I was really pleased with how well he jumped over a really educational track.”

Speaking about the ground conditions she said: “It was amazing out there and mine came out bouncing on the last day so it was a testament to the work that was put in by the team at Millstreet. I’ve had an amazing week here and I’m so grateful to my owners for keeping such wonderful horses with me - it’s great to be able to share days like this with them!”

The leaderboard was shaken up after cross-country day with dressage leader Laura Collett and C-let’s Dance Van De Beemd (NRPS) having two early run-outs on the course. The ground jury of Les Smith (GBR), Marie Hennessy (IRL), Debbie Adamas (USA) had Collett on a score of 26.3 to lead the way after the first phase.

Similarly, placed second after dressage, Louise Bradley and the Anne Hussey-bred Irish Sport Horse Ardeo Mandela posted a dressage score of 27.5 penalties to sit second. They jumped a clear round out on the cross-country track around Drishane Castle but 16.4 time penalties saw them slip right down the leaderboard, finishing in 14th.

Caroline Harris (GBR) and Lester Ckv were fighting for their place on the podium throughout the competition. In third place after dressage, the nine-year-old gelding bred by Michael Potter added 8.0 time penalties out on the cross-country course which dropped her to fourth place before the final phase. A clear round in the Green Glens Arena on the final day was good enough to lift her up to finish in second place.

Irish eyes were smiling seeing Robbie Kearns take third place on the Richard Ames-owned Sorella Blue. The eight-year-old mare by Zirocco Blue VDL (SF), previously campaigned by Isabel English, has had a consistent start to the season with a top-20 finish at Burnham Market earlier in the spring. This combination crossed the finish line on the cross country course just 10 seconds over the optimum time to add four time penalties to their dressage score.

They were then one of 13 combinations who left all the fences standing in the show jumping arena on Sunday. Nick Brooks (NZL) and Lucky Jo Jo, a 10-year-old by Dilshaan (GB) (TB) rose from 15th after dressage to take fourth place on the final day. Lucky Jo Jo, an Irish Sport Horse, was bred by Alice Pringle and has already had two wins at Intermediate level in the UK this spring.

Jack O’Haire and Jamaica Rose put in the fastest time of the class when they stopped the clock just four seconds over the optimum time leaving them in second place going into the show jumping phase. An unfortunate 12 jumping penalties and 1.2 time penalties meant that they slipped just outside the top 10.