THREE Irish riders competed in last Sunday’s BSPS TopSpec Gold Cup finals at the Burghley international horse trials, where Nancy Lyons Teehan was biding to bring up a double in the 143cm class on her mother Louise’s Newydd Lady Marmalade.

Lying third going into the final show jumping phase, where they competed in reverse order, Lyons Teehan knew she would have to clear the joker fence if she hoped to win. Unfortunately, the gamble didn’t pay off, so she and the 16-year-old Welsh mare by Penbee Starlight Express, who dropped 17 points over the coloured poles, had to settle for second on 134.39.

The comfortable winner on 160.12 was Britain’s Lola Carabine on the 13-year-old Connemara mare Lady Dublin of Corderry (Gwennic de Goariva - Aughaveen Aine, by Templebready Bo’sun). Her compatriot Libby James, who lost 30 points in the show jumping phase, finished third (126.31) on the 12-year-old Connemara gelding Barnadown Lad (by Illaunurra Lad).

Lyons Teehan’s grooms at Burghley were her siblings Robin and Nicky George, but she had to compete without the support of her England-based grandmother Anne Lyons. The latter, however, had been at Saturday’s Moreton Show, where Nancy qualified for HOYS with the working hunters Dartans Seoda Ban (133cm) and Buachaill Bui (Mountain and Moorland 148cm).

Today, the three Lyons Teehan children are competing for the North Kilkenny Branch in the Mackey/Irish Pony Club national hunter trials championships in Ballycahane.

There, they will again meet up with Co Meath’s Clara Cully, who finished fifth (115) in the same class at Burghley on the 13-year-old Connemara gelding Colemanstown Fred. Today, Cully and the Killyon King grey will represent the Ward Union Branch in the Junior pairs, as they will in the arena hunter trials at the national ploughing championships in Screggan on Wednesday.

While Clara travelled back to Ireland following the BSPS championships in Grantham, her mother Buddy drove up straight away to Burghley where she stayed locally with Colemanstown Fred and her dog. She was joined later it the week by Clara and other family members who all enjoyed the Burghley experience.

In walking the cross-country course for the 5*, they took their time on Winners’ Avenue as they wanted to find the plaque celebrating the 2004 success of the Andrew Hoy-ridden, Sue Magnier-owned Moonfleet (who also won Badminton in 2006). Buddy and her late father Basil Brindley bred the 1981 thoroughbred gelding, who was by Strong Gale out of the Bargello mare Blue Suede Shoes.

The show jumping phase also had an effect on the 148cm Gold Cup final, where Co Tipperary’s Evie Kennedy was lying second following the first two phases on her mother Maeve’s Dublin working hunter champion Little Dromin Phoenix (Lettermuckmoo Lad - Ballindoon Dolan Sparrow, by Dylan Mick).

Second last to jump, Kennedy decided to keep the pressure on the leader by jumping the joker on the 17-year-old Connemara gelding but, in lowering a pole, she lost 20 points for a total of 148.58. She held on to second place however, and, with the leader dropping to fifth, Britain’s Lexi Brash moved up from third to win on 157.12 with the 13-year-old Connemara gelding Robe Classic Thunder (Robe Thunder - Liskillen Dancer, by Andy’s Pride), who went on to stand champion.

In common with Lyons Teehan, Kennedy got to ride in the championship, bringing an end to her competitive season on Little Dromin Phoenix. She will now concentrate on her dressage horse Cordobes XXXVI.