THE sun beamed down on the Green Glens Arena in Co Cork as Millstreet CSI2* delivered yet another unforgettable week of top-class show jumping.

Spanning five action-packed days, the event drew an electric atmosphere with riders from both Ireland and abroad taking part. Among the impressive 3,000 entries were 435 Irish competitors, joined by international riders from France, Britain, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, and the USA.

From grassroots amateur classes to the renowned Boomerang six and seven-year-old final, the show offered something for every level of competition - culminating in a thrilling International Grand Prix finale won by 16-year-old Senan Reape.

“We had five arenas going plus the indoor, good entries across the board and really, really good show jumping,” Thomas Duggan, Millstreet Show director, told The Irish Field. “The Boomerang and Millstreet Ruby and young horses classes are, as always, showing the really great talented horses we are producing in Ireland.”

Immediately after the show finished on Sunday evening, Duggan’s team had a quick turnaround for the Mounted Games European Championships. “We will start on Sunday evening to clear all the lower arenas and clean 300 stables before the Mounted Games ponies come in, so that is going to be a big turnaround but we have our team ready for that.”

Looking ahead, Duggan said: “There is always a plan – we are preparing a bid for the World Under 25 FEI Eventing Championships and if we were successful in that it might bring other things along with it. Our Ukrainian residents who have been here for three and a half years are finishing up at the end of August, so the main arena comes back to us and that will introduce a whole different dynamic next year.”

Long time supporter Robert Splaine was competing at the show and said: “I have been coming here since the show started which was 52 years ago and it’s still a great show. Credit must be given to the Duggan family for all their work and the great facilities that they offer.”

Lt Col Tom Freyne from the Army Equitation school echoed Splaine, commenting: “I have been coming here since I was a child and it has always been a great experience. It’s a great place to bring young horses and young riders for the experience. It’s also great to have a ranking class at home in a top facility.”

Millstreet CSI2* Grand Prix winner Senan Reape is congratulated by Dervilla Campbell Grieve, president of the Ground Jury \ Tadhg Ryan Bit-Media

Grand Prix

International jumping came to an exciting close with the highly anticipated €30,000 Grand Prix. Leading the victory lap and claiming close to €10,000 was Sligo’s Senan Reape aboard Creevagh Special. It was the 16-year-old’s first senior international Grand Prix win at just his second show with the mare.

Reape left his rivals behind as last to go in the 11-horse jump-off when he posted the fastest clear round in 41.78 seconds. It has been an excellent couple of weeks for the Reape family from Ard Chuain Equestrian Centre with Paddy Reape playing a vital role in the Irish Junior team claiming the gold medal in the recent European Championships.

Owned by Senan’s father Jonathan Reape and bred by the late Ronnie Hollinger, this 15-year-old mare is by Ramiro De Haar x Harlequin de Carel and has been produced to date by Senan’s brother Paddy. The pair had demonstrated top form earlier in the week when taking third in the 1.40m Grand Prix qualifier.

Speaking afterwards, Reape said: “The win was unexpected as I have not been riding her that long, it’s only our second show together. She is very brave and has great character. I think where I made up the time was from the Millstreet planks to the final fence. I didn’t think I’d be quick enough; I was going in to do a smart round and Dad said he would whistle coming down to the plank if I was going to be quick enough. I heard him whistle and stayed going down to the last and it all paid off.”

Regarding the show, he added: “It is always a great show and the arenas are top class. To win a Grand Prix in Millstreet is always very special. I would like to thank our new groom Tess who has only been with us a short time but had the horses looking fantastic. I would also like to thank my father Jonathan who trains both myself and Paddy. I have this mare and a five-year-old going to Dublin next.”

There was a strong field of 43 combinations battling which resulted in an 11-way jump-off with 25% of the startlist going through to round two, that included three combinations on four faults.

Reape was chased home by Mikey Pender and Madgeslane Louis who also kept the poles in place in 42.42. This combination was fresh from their win in the Plusvital Premier Grand Prix at the National Balmoral Championships. Bred by Pender, the chesnut gelding is by Luidam out of the OBOS Quality 004 mare Madges Lane Karol.

Francis Connors and Carrigshawn Vendi Royal put in a gallant attempt but had to settle for third place when finishing in 43.37. This pairing has been in form of late, winning the Premier Performance National Grand Prix in Charleville, taking the runner-up place in the National Grand Prix in Coilog and sixth in the Plusvital Premier Series in Barnadown. Owned by Francis, Jenny and Kate Connors, the 10-year-old mare was bred by John Warner and is by Dondoctro Ryal K out of Carrigshawn Vendi.

Rhys Williams and Preston Van ‘T Reebroeck followed Connors and a clear in 43.90 saw them take fourth place. Bred by Stal ‘t Reebroeck VOF, this 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding is by Vigo D’Arsouilles Stx.

British rider Annabel Shields and Corrindubh Brother In Arms accounted for fifth place when clear in 44.64, the last of the double clear rounds.

Winner of the 1.35m two-phase earlier in the week, Katie Nallon was keen to add to her record as she took it on with CW Luiboutain but she proved out of luck with four faults to finish sixth. This nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Luidam was bred by Patrick McGarry out of the Captain Clover-sired dam Captain Beauty.