BRITAIN’s Emma Manton paid an unforgettable first visit to Kilguilkey last week as, on board her mother Claire’s Nexero, she recorded her first international eventing success in the 23-runner CCI3*-S and, for the first time, she led going into the final phase.

“I’ve had plenty of good results show jumping abroad but this is my first international win,” revealed the 23-year-old who, with two fences down show jumping finished sixth in the CCI2*-L with DHI Lorenzo.

“I really enjoyed the whole event, especially the way everything was so close and people were so friendly.

“The cross-country course was excellent and they had done a lot of work overnight on the ground. Like others, I was a bit worried about the squirrel fence but I needn’t have been. My horse is a cross-country machine. He got into a good rhythm early on and I knew that if we made any mistake it would have been mine.”

Manton went on to tell us more about the 10-year-old Nexus gelding who she refers to as Nelly. “I purchased him from his breeder, Deborah Preston, as a six-year-old with a view to producing him for my sister to ride but she has since given up horses. “It took us a while to build up a partnership and I dropped him down to 100 level for most of our first season together.

“Nelly hasn’t always showcased his ability but is now very confident and is an easy horse to ride. I‘ve had a lot of help with his jumping from Emma Fisher and Harriet Biddock while my dressage coach is Alex Harrison. Sadly however Nelly is on the market (See Emma’s Facebook page for further details).

“About 10 days before we travelled over to Kilguilkey, I moved my horses to Cheddingon Equestrian in Dorset, where Tim and Jonelle Price are now based, and while I have the use of great facilities and training there, I am also studying Economics with the Open University and, going into third year, I have to cut back on horse numbers. We’ve had such a journey together, it’s a pity that he’s for sale but now, after this first international win, it’s the perfect time and he will be the horse of a lifetime for someone.”

Waterford-based British international Daniel Alderson was narrowly beaten into second on Global Javall Gold (26.6) ahead of Northern Region members Rosie Alcorn, on her home-bred Jaguar Mail gelding Chrysanthos (33.1), and Clare Abbott with Lawrence Patterson’s home-bred Road To Happiness gelding Drumnaconnell Kobie whose total of 33.8 included two cross-country time penalties.