PROVING once again that she is one to watch for the future, Co Laois teenage show jumper Jennifer Kuehnle beat off stiff competition to win the 1.35m Millstreet CSI* Welcome Tour Grand Prix with Electric Feel, owned by leading Galway sport horse producer, Deirdre Bourns.
Kuehnle (14), recently named as The Irish Field Junior Show Jumper of the Year for her gold medal win in last year’s European Championships Children on Horses division, crossed the line clear in a time of 45.700 to take the win over Christopher Connell on BVS Echo Island, owned by Brosna View Stables, on a zero score in a time of 46.390. In third place was Luke Garrigan on MHS La Scala, owned by Martin Garrigan, a single time fault in 56.500 on the board.
In fourth was Maura Counihan on Dicksgrove Silver, owned by John Sullivan, again carrying a single time fault in 58.330 while on eight was Melanie Davidson on her own Naughty By Nature with David Corcoran and French Touch, owned by Joan Walsh, in sixth posting 12 faults in 48.10.
It was also a battle against the elements with very heavy rain on Sunday forcing the organisers to pull out all the stops, including hosting the warm-up in the indoor arena while the main competition continued outdoors. Switzerland’s Gerard Lachet is the course builder and is also the course builder for the upcoming Europeans Championship this July at the Co Cork venue.
Also on Sunday, Jake Hunter and Volcanicity, owned by Sandra Duffy, won the CSI* 1.25m Table A, clear in 59.10 from Emma Jackson on her own Amy B (61.010) with Christopher Megahey and Charming Lady in third (66.510). In fourth and last of the clear rounds was Nicholas Connors on Abordable du Talus, owned by Ann Connors (67.630.
Carrying four faults in fifth place was Mackenzie Healy on Lolita, owned by Declan Healy ((60.630) chased by Claudia Walsh on Ballylynch Take Advantage in seventh, owned by Sandra Walsh (4/ 72.160).
Saturday’s main CSI* winners included Laura Connors on Just Jump, owned by Ann Connors (0/37.180) in the 1.30m Table A jump-off from David Corcoran on French Tour (0/37.380) and Jake Hunter on Cornets Little, owned by Petra Holtgen, (4/35.790).
In the 1.25m Table C Brian Morrison took victory on Cuaolama I SB, owned by Sandra Duffy, lcear in 58.000 from Melanie Davidson on her own Quontum (0/59.33) with Robert Harrison in third on Holly Castleforbes (0/59.850).
Riding for Vinnie Duffy, Brian Morrison and Jake Hunter brought 42 horses between them to Millstreet last week, something of a record.
On Friday, talented local teenage rider Jack Ryan (14) won the 1.25m CSI* two phase on Cavalier Teaca, owned by his mother Marguerite Ryan (0/25.800) from Nicholas Connors on April Allen’s Lantino 31 (0/26.380) in second and David Corcoran on Joan Walsh’s Winstone II in third (0/27.960). Kuehnle was fourth on Electric Feel (0/28.110), followed by Jake Hunter in fifth on Liam Lynskey’s Cruising for Chics (0/28.120) and Michael Pender in sixth on HHS Amaizing Grace, owned by Marion Hughes (0/28.580).
GRAND PRIX SHOWDOWN
Now in its fourth year, this show has grown year on year and hosted 130 classes on the schedule over the two weeks, right through from newcomer ponies to combined training, eventing and the Grand Prix feature events.
Last year the show attracted 4,500 entries in total but last week alone it recorded over 3,500 entries with today’s feature €25,000 Grand Prix, sponsored by Connolly Red Mills yet to come. Rain has forced the cancellation of Sunday’s ODE at Drishane Castle.
Today’s (Saturday) Grand Prix, which is also a two-star Longines World Ranking class, has attracted 70 entries and will take place in the main outdoor at 3pm.