A LAST minute decision to travel to Millstreet paid off for Michael Pender and HHS California when they took the honours in the Connolly’s Red Mills International Welcome Tour Grand Prix last Saturday.

Thirty combinations came forward to take on the challenge set by international course designer James Tarrant. With only the top eight (25%) progressing to the second round, as clear rounds continued so too did the pressure to deliver in as quick a time as possible.

Ultimately, Damien Griffin (Lissyegan Lui Royale), Michelle Kenny (RLE Avalon du Carpont), Kelly Taggart (H Tw0) and Jake Hunter (Robinstown Lux Lovely) had to settle for the lower rankings despite zero scores, while those above them went on to fight for the lion’s share of the €5,000 prize fund.

Pender set the target of 39.99 seconds in the jump-off with his Cavan Spring Tour winner HHS Sevenhouses.

Spring Tour regulars, Liam O’Meara (Mr Coolcaum) and Sven Hadley (Quanbell) were determined to make their mark and Pender entered the arena on his second ride knowing that he would have to shave 1.3 seconds off his time in front of his two main contenders. That he did, riding Marion Hughes’ seven-year-old Heritage Fortunus-bred grey mare to victory, stopping the clock at 38.16.

Twenty-four hours previously, the pair won an exhilarating 1.25m–1.30m CSI1* Table A class. Midway in a 13-horse jump-off, Tipperary’s Liam O’Meara set the standard (35.67) with Kenny’s Flight until Pender produced a clear in 34.12. Last in, Shane Dalton looked to be matching the pace with Bernard and Josephine Jordan’s eight-year-old stallion Clonguish Vivaro but slotted into second place in the final rankings (35.45).

INTERNATIONAL

Eight nations were represented across 3,500 entries and 111 events over eight days of competition, including riders from Germany, America, France and Australia.

British event rider Laura Ritchie-Bland contested the CSI1* classes with SRS Everest and Shadow Evergreen en route to competing in the CIC2* class at Ballindenisk International this weekend.

Many Irish event riders availed of the FEI Combined Training classes added to the schedule, including Badminton-bound Michael Ryan and Dominic Furnell. PJ Hegarty’s eventing legend Ricardo Z mare Fenya’s Elegance made a surprise appearance, participating in one of the interactive demonstrations hosted by the Warmblook Studbook of Ireland.

International action got underway last Thursday afternoon when regular Millstreet visitor Sven Hadley got off to a winning start with Quanbell in the CSI1* 1.25m Table A class, four seconds ahead of Cian Harrison (Wannahave), while Tom Hearne had to settle for third with Intis. Hadley secured a top-three placing in four of the remaining five CSI1* classes with the 13-year-old Quentin gelding.

The first of the Grand Prix Qualifiers saw Galway’s Damien Griffin take the top two places in the two phase, with Lissyegan Lui Royale and Tabby. Hadley was third and fourth, with Quanbell and Sumas Taloubet respectively.

In the following afternoon’s 1.30m CSI1* Table C class, Hadley was in podium position again following a faultless performance with Sumas Taloubet, ahead of Shane Dalton and Clonguish Vivaro in second, while Australia’s Jake Hunter completed the line-up with Knightfield Ella.

A timing anomaly in Saturday’s CSI1* 1.25m Two Phase saw Hadley (Quanbell) ultimately share the winner’s position with Liam O’Meara who had posted a lightning-speed second phase time of 23.72.

With valuable qualifying slots for the Young Horse Championships at Millstreet International Horse Show on offer, Tim MacDonagh and Shane Dalton secured places in the Millstreet Ruby Five-Year-Old Final with Hickstead Musterd and Lux Like Cruise respectively.

The Six/Seven-Year-Old Final on Saturday saw 15 horses qualify for the jump-off. Jake Hunter secured the two qualifying slots for August’s Boomerang Six/Seven-Year-Old Championship with the six-year-old Karandasj gelding Kepi Vert Du Buisson Z and the seven-year-old Verdi gelding Ferdumelion.

The national competition arenas were kept particularly busy and 43 horses came forward for the 1.20m–1.25m Final last Saturday morning.

Placed in the 1.20m class on Thursday, Daniel Fitzgerald went two places better to take home the red rosette with Julieann Gaffney’s Gucci Lady, leaving resident Fernhill Sport Horses rider Fraser Duffy in second with Fernhill Charlie.

Placed in two five-year-old classes, Shane Goggins went all the way in the 1.10m–1.15m Final with Connaught Bloodstock’s Cruising-bred stallion Silvermines Cruising, while Mikey Pender had to settle for second with HHS Tokyo.

At 1.00m level, the hotly contested final went to Nicholas Canavan and Clover Falcon with Andrew Byrne finishing in second with Hunterslodge Puissance.

Equestrian action returns to the Green Glens Arena on Saturday, May 6th when the Duggans host an ‘all-weather’ Eventing Ireland One Day Event at EI100 and EI90 level.