Ennis sixth at Chatsworth

SARAH Ennis finished sixth in the CCI4*-S at Chatsworth International last weekend. Another British event that was plagued with difficult ground conditions due to wet weather, only the four-stars and advanced went ahead. In the class of 82 starters, just 25 finished after a number of withdrawals as well as eliminations on cross-country day.

Ennis scored 36.5 in the opening dressage phase with Susanna Francke and Peter Cole’s 12-year-old ISH gelding Grantstown Jackson (Clover Brigade) who, a graduate of the Go For Gold Sale, was bred by Caroline Widger.

A clear show jumping round, with just 1.6 time penalties, saw them move up the leaderboard and a clear cross-country in difficult conditions, with just 14.8 to add for time, saw them finish on 52.9 in sixth place. France’s Stephane Landois won the class on a score of 34 with Chaman Dumontceau; that result helped France to the Nations Cup win ahead of Britain.

Cooley Nutcraker lands USA win

THE nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse Cooley Nutcracker (Tolan R x Cobra), bred by Gary Doherty, won the CCI4*-L at Tryon International. A graduate of the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale, the gelding was ridden to victory from pillar to post by USA’s Liz Halliday-Sharp, a big supporter of Irish horses.

Adding just 3.6 time penalties to their dressage score of 27.4, the combination finished on a total of 31.0 after a perfect clear over the coloured poles, just ahead of Jacob Flecther (USA) with Fabian.