SARAH Ennis has been a staunch supporter of the Stepping Stones to Success League since it was first established by Orla Roche and Pat Peare at Wexford Equestrian and this year brought six horses to each of the four assessment days from her Stellor Sport Horses yard in Batterstown, Co Meath.

Her efforts paid off handsomely on Thursday when she won both the four-year-old and five-year-old finals and their corresponding Leagues and picked up a number of placings as well. “I had an amazing day and I’m delighted for my owners and the team at home,” said Ennis who has been juggling young horses, competing on the national and home international eventing circuit while also taking part in Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance squad training.

Ennis’s winner of the Childéric Saddles four-year-old final was Zena Ryle’s Ardeo Grand Slam who, thanks to the 149 points he was awarded by Ian Fearon and Ger O’Brien in the jumping phases and the 26 points he achieved in the Johnny Kyle-judged conformation and type phase, completed on 226.7 to score narrowly from Anne Marie Dunphy’s dressage winner, MBF Silver Bridge (62.8).

The latter, a Silvano gelding ridden for American owner Carrie Meehan by Nicola Ennis, had a three-phase total of 226.3 while Louise Bloomer finished third on Shannondale Levi (214.4), a Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan gelding she owns in partnership with Jinnie Webb.

Ardeo Grand Slam, a Cool Diamond Star gelding who has no registered pedigree, claimed League honours on 35 points ahead of MBF Silver Bridge (29.5) who had a point in hand over the Chinook Eclipse gelding Hidden Eclipse who was ridden for owner Trevor Horgan by Louise Codd.

Ryle, who was able to attend finals’ day as there were fewer people on site than during the assessment stages, sourced her winner through Ardeo Sport Horses.

“I was absolutely thrilled with him!” she said of the chesnut who she plans to keep to ride herself. “He was so consistent through the league and then to win the final and league was brilliant. However, it’s really all down to Sarah Ennis. She is one of the best producers of young event horses in the country and has proven it time and time again.”

Silken Icon shines

Wendy Harris was also fulsome in her praise of Ennis following the dual success of her five-year-old Silken Icon. The Colandro gelding, who is out of the Coronea Eagle mare Silken Twist, comfortably won the final on 232.6 points ahead of his stable-companion, the Latour gelding Heritage Laccato (224.8), who is owned by Ennis’s husband Niki Potterton and Tracey McKeown. Noel Dunne, winner of the league’s young rider award, finished third on Heidi Hamilton’s Conthargos gelding The Sequel (223.6).

Silken Icon headed the league table on 35 points while The Sequel claimed the runner-up spot on 31. Yet another Ennis-ridden five-year-old, Eilish Arkwright and Sarah Oldum’s Tullabeg Fusion gelding Diamond Fusion, finished third (27).

“I lived in England for over a decade and am great friends with John and Chloe Perry who source all of their horses through Brian Lusk,” said Harris. “Last June, with the pandemic, I thought it was time for a bit more joy in my life so I gave Brian a call and went up north to see three horses at his yard, one of whom was Arlo (Silken Icon).

“He was standing in the car-park and the second I saw his beautiful head I hoped he was one of the horses I was there to see. He was then owned by Sandra Hamilton who had bought him from his breeder, Helen Troughton. He was the 2016 Horse Sport Ireland event foal champion. He came third in the four-year-old Stepping Stones League last season but is a completely different horse this year. He has really filled out and has grown from strength to strength.

“I asked Brian to find me a Badminton horse and I think he has done just that. I’m confident that I have the best jockey on him with Sarah so hopefully he has a bright future ahead,” Harris concluded.

Tricia Bracegirdle of sponsor Childéric Saddles was also present for the final and very much enjoyed her day in the sunny south-east. “It was great to have the opportunity to view, in the flesh, some of Ireland’s top young horses who, we are sure, will have a bright future in the sport.

“We enjoy supporting such a great team at Wexford Equestrian and of course the riders producing horses for this League. We feel it’s very important to support events at this level as they are the foundation of the industry.”