The Irish National Anthem rang out not once, but twice in quick succession over the final day of the Millstreet International Horse Trials, Co Cork, as the home team secured victory in a high-class FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ and Sam Watson from Co Carlow clinched the Noel C Duggan Engineering CCI4*-L win on his own and wife Hannah ‘Sparkles’ Watson’s Irish Sport Horse Ballyneety Rocketman.

The FEI Nations Cup™ win was a great boost to Irish morale ahead of the Paris Olympic Games later this summer and team manager Dag Albert admitted the selectors had a greater choice than normal for the squad that will be announced later this month: ‘They’re a great bunch of riders and they really wanted to win this on home ground. The scoring was very tight but they came through in the jumping phases.’

Only 11.5 penalties separated the five teams, with the USA second, Australia third, Britain fourth and New Zealand, down to three riders with the withdrawal of Clarke Johnstone, fifth.

Jennifer Kuehnle, who was under pressure across country as the team anchorwoman, finished eighth individually on Polly Blue Eyes, Patrick Whelan was ninth on Altitiu, Ian Cassells was 19th on Millridge Atlantis and Robbie Kearns was 29th on Ballyvillane OBOS.

Technical delegate Neil Mackenzie-Hall from New Zealand said: ‘It was a brilliant competition and a great result. Eventing is about three disciplines and today cross-country proved the decider.’

Millstreet represented a first 4* win since 2020 for the 2018 world silver medallist Sam Watson, 38. ‘It’s taken a while to get Rocketman to this stage, but he’s here now and it’s great to fly the Irish flag,’ he said.

The US rising star Cosby Green, 23, who competed at Millstreet last year, achieved her best result so far on her 2024 European Development Tour; she finished second on the 14-year-old Highly Suspicious and put the pressure on Sam with a clear jumping round. 

In a highly international line-up, the top placings remained unchanged after jumping, with Jonelle Price (NZL) third on Chilli’s Midnight Star, Caroline Pamukcu (USA) fourth on She’s The One and Ryuzo Kitajima (JAP) fifth on Corona Xtreme JRA fifth. Britain’s Rose Nesbitt rose two places to sixth with a clear on EG Michaelangelo.

The Australian Olympian Christopher Burton, who is currently combining top-level showjumping with eventing, scored his first win with new ride Shadow Man, having led throughout in the Connollys Red Mills CCI4*-S, which had incorporated the FEI Nations Cup™.

He finished 5 seconds within the optimum cross-country time of 6 minutes 11 seconds with a beautifully executed round. ‘That is the monkey off my back,’ he joked. ‘This really is a special horse and I’m privileged to ride him.’

He also praised the cross-country course team, and designer Mike Etherington-Smith, who he described as ‘the best in the world’, for their hard work overnight in re-routing the track for the CCI4*-S to achieve better ground after such a wet spring; by the time the class started, the going was perfect.

It was a good competition for Australia, with Kevin McNab second on Scuderia 1918 A Best Friend and sixth on Faro Imp, and Andrew Barnett, a first-time visitor to the northern hemisphere, fourth on Go Tosca. Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima was third on Feroza Nieuwmoed and Ireland’s Ian Cassells, who rode four clear rounds in the class, finished best on Kellys Quality, fifth.

There was a British top four in the CCI3*-L: Sam Ecroyd was first and fourth on Bloomfield Manuscript and Boleybawn Lecrae, Tom Grant was the runner-up on the Irish Sport Horse Tommy Cruise and Emily King was fourth on Maserati de Landetta Z.

The Donagh Hickey Motors CCI2*-L was a victory for Samantha Lissington, who led from flagfall on Mr Cookie Time; the New Zealander had a particularly busy afternoon as she also dominated the Coral Cove Championship with a one-two on Nadal and Never Know MB. 

Ireland was back on the podium for the Foran Equine CCI2*-S when Elizabeth Power show jumped clear on Balladeer Clintender to overhaul long-time leader Caitie Slater, who incurred four faults on Derena Super Star, and there were more home victories for Chloe Fagan, who captured the Carr & Davy & Martin CCI1*-Intro on the six-year-old Gervada by Vadamos, and Carla Williamson and Galco who headed the Pony CCI1*-L.

During a highly competitive and successful weekend, Millstreet united with the international eventing community in holding a two-minute silence to remember British rider Georgie Campbell, who died after a fall at Bicton, UK, last weekend. As Sam Watson received his prize, he said: ‘Seeing my wife and kids watching me, my thoughts go straight to Jesse Campbell [husband]. Time is precious and I know the eventing world will wrap their arms around him.’

For full results from Millstreet, visit www.rechenstelle.de

Picture caption: The victorious Irish team (Jennifer Kuehnle, Patrick Whelan, Ian Cassells and Robbie Kearns) in the FEI Nations Cup™ leg held at Millstreet International Horse Trials, Co Cork, Ireland with team manager Dag Albert (Picture is free to use, but please credit Bit-Media).

Notes to editors:

Millstreet has previously hosted Young Rider, Junior and Pony European Championships and is the Irish leg of the 2024 FEI Eventing Nations Cup TM series.

The FEI Eventing Nations Cup TM for 2024 comprises seven European legs, of which Millstreet is the second to take place, with a final at Boekelo, Netherlands, in October. The series was established in 2012 and has provided invaluable team practice for up-and-coming riders and some thrilling competition.

The Duggan family have long been steeped in the Irish equestrian world, producing top-class competition horses and hosting international competitions. They are currently providing accommodation to some 300 Ukrainian refugees.

Millstreet has expansive facilities with eight all-weather jumping arenas and eight all-weather warm-up arenas, plus a beautiful parkland cross-country course in the grounds of Drishane Castle.

Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR) designed the cross-country courses for the Olympic Games  in 2000 and 2008, the world championships in 2010 and the European championships in 2005, 2019 and 2021.

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