Britain’s Gemma Stevens enjoyed a brilliant weekend at the Millstreet International Horse Trials, Co Cork, Ireland, winning both the Noel C. Duggan Engineering CCI4*-L and Goresbridge Horse Sales CCI3*-L on a smart pair of Cooley Irish-bred horses that show exciting potential.
She landed the CCI4*-L on Pru Dawes’s handsome grey Flash Cooley, a 13-year-old bred by Jim O’ Neil by CSF Mr Kroon out of an OBOS Quality mare. The pair led throughout, finishing with a clear show jumping round to stay ahead of Brazil’s Marcio Cavalho Jorge (Royal Encounter) and Italy’s Giovanni Ugolotti (Duke of Champions). Aoife Clark was best Irish rider in fourth on Full Monty de Lacense.
“It’s such a relief because I’ve been second in a CCI4*-L four times,” said a delighted Gemma. “Two years ago we came second here at Millstreet with a fence down and it was a sore subject. This really puts it to bed, along with a disappointment at Badminton.
“Flash Cooley was off last year with an injury, but he has come back so well, especially on the flat. He is a super little horse.”
Gemma triumphed in the CCI3*-L on TJM Equestrian’s “extremely talented” Cooley Park Muze, a clear show jumping round keeping them comfortably ahead of fellow Briton Caroline Harris, who rose two places to second with a fault-free round on Lester Ckv. Robbie Kearns was best of the home side, also rising two places with a clear, to third place on Sorella Blue.
Ireland’s Ben Connors, who had been third after cross-country, slipped to fifth place with a rail down on OLS King Aragon and cross-country runner-up Jack O’Haire (Jamaica Rose) dropped to 11th with 13.2 penalties.
In addition to Cooley Park Muze, a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Pollux de Muze Z who only started eventing two years ago, Gemma has another thrilling prospect in the Chilli Morning son Chilli’s Jester (out of Mary King’s King’s Gem), ninth in the same class. “These horses are keeping me in the sport,” revealed Gemma, who also competes regularly in showjumping.
There was a popular home victory in the Donagh Hickey Motors CCI2*-L for Irishman Robbie Kearns riding Belline Thistle Bethelastime, a seven-year-old by Grafenstoltz out of a Kannan mare bought by owner Richard Ames as a yearling from the breeder, John Brodie.
Robbie’s clear round put the pressure on overnight leader Giovanni Ugolotti (Magherard Candy), who was left with no margin for error and dropped to third with just one rail down. Australia’s Kevin McNab, already a winner this weekend, rose to second on Chanel Rf.
Robbie, who is stable jockey to Richard Ames, has produced the attractive grey mare since she was five. “We always thought she had so much talent,” he said. “She fell on the flat at Le Lion d’Angers last year, so this feels like setting the record straight.”
Pony rider Hugh Kelly, 16, impressed in the Connollys Red Mills CCIP2-L with a mature performance on Bronagh Kennedy’s seven-year-old mare Fairyhouse In A Pickle, having added nothing to his dressage score over the three days.
Cross-country leader Kitty Cullen on Coppenagh Spring Sparrow finished second with one showjumping rail down.
Carla Williamson, 16, who won the Pony class at Millstreet last year, led throughout the Carr & Day & Martin CCI1*-Intro on her new ride this season, Ann Magee’s Karolita O, a 10-year-old Dutch warmblood mare by Firestone.
The other short-format sections saw victories for Joseph Murphy riding Austin O’Callaghan and Amanda Torrens’s Barberstown Castle Rehy in the Foran Equine CCI3*-S; Alison Holden with Eamon Holden’s Lates Eddie in the Eventing Ireland CCI2*-S; and American rider Hallie Coon in the Coral Cove Championships for young horses on the Irish Sport Horse Boleybawn Olivia.
“It has been another great weekend of sport at Millstreet,” said event director and host Thomas Duggan. “We are thrilled that so many international competitors want to come here to educate their horses and enjoy the superb courses and footing here, and that it has been such a successful showcase for the Irish Sport Horse.”