CLOCKING up by far the biggest winning margin of the weekend, British rider Willa Newton romped home to victory in the Nutriscience CCI4*S.

Having dominated the dressage to earn the only sub 30 mark of 28.8, Newton and Cock A Doodle Doo progressed to deliver a smart show jumping clear. The following day, the pair enjoyed a slick round in the country where, recording the fastest time of the day, they extended their lead to 10 marks.

Another regular visitor to the venue, and delighted to be back post pandemic, Newton remarked: “I can’t believe the changes here – it’s a fantastic arena and the ground was wonderful.” Newton, who hails from a famous Leicestershire hunting and racing family – her grandmother, the Honourable Urky Newton, was a legendary Master of the Quorn, has owned the 10-year-old Cock A Doodle Doo since buying him from German Olympian Dirke Schrade seven years ago.

“He gave me a great spin. When I’m under pressure, he gets better and just gets on with it.” Millstreet is on the cards for this 10-year-old who is by Clarimo.

Taking part in only her second event since producing baby Tilly in January, Co Kildare’s Camilla Speirs and BT Angelo completed in a very credible second spot. The pair pulled up from 10th place on the flat, and delivering one of just seven show jumping clears, gained promotion in every phase.

Another product of Kate Jarvey’s wonderful breeding lines, BT Angelo is by Indoctro and, out of Decision Day (La Fontaine) was bought as a five-year-old by Camilla’s mother Bridget together with Orla O’Neill. “I’ve always thought a lot of him, and I’m really looking forward to the season ahead,” remarked Speirs. “Luckily Tilly arrived at the right time of year!”

Both the time across country and the show jumping were influential, and while Ryuzo Kipajima (Feroza Nieuwmoed) carried penalties from both phases, his final score earned a third place. One of the Japan Racing Association squad, Kipajima has been based with Angela Tucker in England for the past seven years and travelled to the Tokyo Olympics as a reserve last summer. His long journey was later rewarded with a call up to jump in the final phase, where he produced a good clear round. He is already qualified for the World Championships, and unusually, has produced Feroza Nieuwmoed through the ranks himself, having bought him as youngster from Canadian rider Mike Winter.

Notable in fourth spot were the Co Down combination of Daniel Brown and the much-admired jumper Fleur de Lys. Having been based with Padraig and Lucy McCarthy for two years, Brown has now returned home to set up on his own.

Highlighting the ongoing success of Kate Jarvey’s breeding programme, Sian Coleman completed in fifth with Jarvey’s home-bred Hush A Bye Baby, while a special mention must go to Ali Holden, who having produced a second placed dressage mark 30.5, piloted the popular O My Balladeer into sixth.

When the sums were totalled, none of the 26 horses who set out across the country made the time, and although most enjoyed trouble free-runs, the track was not without incident. The HSI corner complex (9) was the bogey, and proved a question to far for Suzanne Hagan’s OBOS Take One. Also picking up an isolated penalty here were the well-placed Stephanie Stammschroer (Master Swatch) and Annie Ho (MJI Bella Bonita). The error was especially tough for Stammschroer, who had jumped one of only seven jumping clears, and also for Canadian rider Katheryn Robinson who, also clear over the coloured poles, incurred 20 penalties at this tricky combination, before unfortunately falling at the Gallun Corners.

The only other elimination was Mike Ryan, who uncharacteristically took a tumble in the show jumping from Claragh Mountain.