A SPARKLING dressage test from Sam Watson roused the home supporters at the Sema Lease Camphire international horse trials yesterday, and boosted Ireland’s chances in the feature Nations Cup CCI4* S. Setting out as one of the last of the 65 runners, Watson and the grey Imperial Sky performed calmly in the blustery weather, to move into a highly competitive fourth spot individually on a score of 27.7. This leaves team Ireland in fifth place of the eight teams behind Sweden, Great Britain, Italy and New Zealand, but with only six marks spanning the top five, and with a stiff cross-country track to face today (Saturday), there is all to play for.

“I was delighted with my test. It’s the best he’s ever produced at the level, but it’s only a small part of the job,” commented Watson. “Paul Brady has built a clever track, and with a lot of differences in the terrain it will be a real challenge.”

Individually, the Swedish rider Therese Viklund leads the charge with Viscera on a score of 27.40, a mark she shares with Britain’s Flora Harris (Amazing). Just a point adrift, the Swedish young rider Sofia Sjoborg (DHI Mighty Dwight) holds third from Watson, and Sir Mark Todd (Leonidas) on 28.5. Ireland’s remaining team riders Brian Morrison, Sarah Ennis and rookie Fred Scala, hold 21st, 42nd and 47th places respectively.

The last two days have been busy ones for the organisers, as riders contested the dressage phases for seven classes. Prominent is the feature Sema Lease CCI4*-L, which in the closing stages late yesterday afternoon saw British WEG gold medallist Tom McEwan riding No Excuse take a clear lead and personal best of 23.3. Three marks adrift is the Chinese combination of Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro, while the better of the two Irish representatives is Robbie Kearns aboard Master McCormack (16th).

At the time of going to press yesterday, the long format CCI3*-L sees British regular Francis Whittington hold the advantage with Fiktor Nito (30.5), but storming up the leaderboard to fill second spot is Sian Coleman with Lady Baton Rouge. Fellow Irish challenger Antonia Ward also delivered a superb test with Christopher Robin to currently fill fourth on 31.7.

In the short format equivalent, Kazuma Tomoto heads the field on the former Irish campaigner Brookpark Vikenti, but he is chased by two exciting new partnerships in Brian Morrison (Global Daenarys) and Padraig McCarthy with Fallulah.

A class which is always of great interest to Irish audiences is the Plus Vital Ltd CCIYH*-S for six-year-olds. A great indicator for Le Lion D’Angers form, it is good to note that, after dressage, there are six Irish combinations in the top 10.

Although Australia’s Kevin McNab holds pole position with Vidalgo, Ireland’s Austin O’Connor is close in touch with the second-placed Silver Don, while Cathal Daniels fills fourth aboard Boleybawn Freedom. Double-handed, O’Connor also piloted Isazsa into fifth leaving a busy Brian Morrison to take sixth with Global DHI, as well as seventh riding Theodorus.

The cross-country and the show jumping action kick off at 9am and 8.30am respectively.