Clark Takes Eighth Place For Ireland at Badminton Horse Trials
IRELAND’S Aoife Clark produced an impressive show jumping performance this afternoon (Monday) to finish eighth overall at Britain’s prestigious Badminton Horse Trials.
Piloting the Irish Sport Horse Master Crusoe, the 33 year-old from Naas out-rode many of the world’s most famous Three Day Eventing combinations to claim the coveted top ten place.
Lying 16th after Dressage on Friday, Clark climbed four places on Saturday to hold 12th position overnight, and today collected just one time fault on the challenging final phase to secure an eighth position on the leaderboard.
Clark, who finished overall seventh at the London Olympics last year with Master Crusoe, was one of eight Irish riders who qualified for this year’s Badminton event.
Carlow’s Sam Watson finished just outside the top 20 with the Irish Sport Horse Horseware Bushman, four faults in show jumping leaving him in 22nd overall.
Elizabeth Power also put in a strong show jumping performance, one fence down with the Irish Sport Horse September Bliss giving her a 26th place.
Other Irish places included first-timer Sarah Ennis in 38th, Joseph Murphy in 52nd, Jim Newsam in 55th and Michael Ryan in 63rd. Peter Hannigan was eliminated during the cross country phase.
The four-star Horse Trials were eventually won by Badminton first-timer, New Zealand’s Jock Paget and Clifton Promise.
Press Release – Horse Sport Ireland, Colin McClelland
