Murphy Claims Victory at Ballindenisk
IRISH rider Joseph Murphy this evening (Sunday) claimed outright victory in the main CCI three star class at Ballindenisk’s International Horse Trials in Co. Cork, after going clear in both cross country yesterday and show jumping today aboard his own Ricardo Z Irish Sport Horse gelding Sportsfield Othello.
The Mullingar-born eventer held his dressage score of 50.8, with his nearest challenger, Britain’s Izzy Taylor and Thistledown Poposki, finishing on a penalty score of 53.2.
British star Oliver Townend, who was bidding for the Goresbridge Go For Gold €50,000 bonus on the Master Imp Irish Sport Horse Imperial Master saw his hopes dashed on the cross country phase in Cork yesterday after being forced to retire.
Carlow’s Sam Watson won the CCI two-star class with the Puissance-sired Irish Sport Horse gelding Imperial Sky, while Meath-based Sarah Ennis took the CCI1* trophy on the Irish Sport Horse Shanbo Queen B.
Britain’s Pippa Funnell was first in the CIC3* with the Irish-bred Second Supreme, with Kildare’s Camilla Speirs making a welcome return on the Irish Sport Horse Portersize Just A Jiff to win the CIC2*.
At Gatcombe Park in England, meanwhile, Ireland’s Austin O’Connor was runner-up in the CIC2* on the Irish Sport Horse Kilpatrick Knight, while Naas-born Aoife Clark and Europop took fourth place in the CIC1* event.
Category: Eventing, International, News
