Posted: 20th June 2016 | Back to news feed
Irish showjumpers dominated Friday's action at the Bolesworth CSI **** International as they showcased the country's enviable strength in depth.
There were victories fore Darragh Kenny, Dermott Lennon and David Simpson on a day whne the sun shone to set up a thrilling weekend of action.
Kenny landed the four-star jump-off competition, sponsored by Cazenove Capital Management.
And he revealed that his winning ride Go Easy De Muze had only been with him for a few weeks after they dominated a jump-off of more than 20 riders, prevailing by almost two seconds from Joe Whitaker and Lola V, with Brazil's Felipe Amaral (Premiere Carthoe BZ) third and Victoria Gulliksen (Viego Les Hauts) fourth.
"It was a really good win. I am very happy with that," Kenny said.
"I have only had the horse for about three weeks, and that was only our second class over 1.45 metres. He feels amazing.
"I think he is going to be a really cool horse for the future. He was the Dutch champion this year with its previous rider, and he also won the grand prix in Eindhoven.
"It was a testing jump-off. There were only four double-clears. There were big open distances and big verticals, but that suits my horse.
"I have really big hopes for him. He will jump the grand prix here on Sunday, and he will hopefully go to Rotterdam next week, then jump on the Irish Nations Cup team in Falsterbo, Sweden.
"Irish showjumping is on such a massive roll at the moment. It's such a shame for us that we don't have a team at the Olympics in Rio, because probably right now we have one of the strongest teams around."
Lennon, meanwhile, saluted "a horse for all seasons" after he delivered a stylish performance to win Friday's opening four-star class.
Lennon, a winner at Bolesworth last year, steered Loughview Lou Lou home in the speed competition, clocking a time of 61.28 seconds.
Their performance proved alomst a second quicker than runner-up Lorenzo de Luca, on Halifax van het Kluizebo, with British challengers filling third and fourth spots through William Funnell (Billy Angelo) and Jessica Mendoza (Wan Arcitect), respectively.
"Lou Lou is a very versatile mare and a horse for all seasons," Lennon said. "She is very versatile, careful and loves to jump.
"We had a misunderstanding and a stop yesterday, but she wanted to win today, and after we got fence two out of the way I was happy to move on in the hope we could be in with a chance.”
Friday's two-star action, meanwhile, saw a win for Sophie Fawcett and Quite Cadiz in the speed class, sponsored by AC Jackson, with Ireland's Aisling Byrne (Wellview Classic Dream) second and Paul Barker (U2 II) third.
And the two-star accumulator, sponsored by Gaskells Waste Management, saw another Irish victory, with Simpson steering Starfighter home, followed by Mark Armstrong's Balougio III in second and Robert Murphy on Vogue in third.
Elsewhere, Julie Slade and Billy Gogo claimed their second Bolesworth win in the space of 24 hours when they landed the Am-B jump-off class, sponsored by Gatehouse.
And it was an emphatic victory, with their jump-off time of 36.62 seconds proving almost four secoonds quicker than the runner-up combination - Bruno Goyens de Heusch and Corella F - while Camilla Bingham and Wembley took third.
"It is great to get a second win," Slade said. "My jump-off plan went to perfection, coming inside to fence four to save some time and one less stride to the last.
"Billy Gogo is just 15hh and is very adaptable. He is easy to ride, just lovely on the flat and quite cheeky, but also great fun."
The Am-A speed class went to Newcastle rider Kerstin Deakin, who followed up a third-placed result on Thursday by winning style on her 17-year-old campaigner Sunsolde.
They clocked a time of 60.67 seconds, with Emily Elliott and Della H in second and Bryony Holloway, riding Cethegus M, third.
"I was drawn quite near the beginning, so it was a long wait," Deakin said. "She is a terrific jumper. She is 17 now, and she is really good indoors and outdoors.
"My boyfriend competed at Liverpool International a few months ago, and I went to watch. It was so impressive, so I knew then that I really wanted to come here and compete."
And there was a second victory of Bolesworth 2016 for the Czech Republic's Emma Augier de Moussac on Brighton Bay, as they took the Young Horse six and seven-year-old two-phase class, sponsored by Opus Interiors.
They prevailed in a time of 29.59 seconds, with Britain's Nicole Pavitt and Gemmarco 16 second and Jake Saywell, riding Darco Native, finishing third.
Chloe Winchester had a puissance debut to savour when she shared victory in a thrilling class at the Bolesworth CSI **** International.
The Suffolk-based rider cleared a fourth and final round height of seven feet three inches on Shannondale Linnet to finish equal first with 16-year-old Irish prospect Michael Pender, riding Acorad 3.
Winchester, a former winner of the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hickstead, and Pender were joined in the last round by Ireland's David Simpson on Gotti van Paemel, who was last year's Bolesworth puissance winner alongside Norway's Victoria Gulliksen.
Simpson faulted in round five, but Winchester and Pender cleared the giant wall in style as the Friday evening crowd revelled in their performances in a class sponsored by Equitop Myoplast.
"She is a very scopey horse, so we thought it might suit her, and she absolutely loved it," Winchester, 21, said.
"I have always loved the idea of a puissance, but then looking at the wall, I thought 'I hope I can get it right!' She got better with each round.
"I have had the horse since September. She is jumping 1.40 metres nationally, and gaining experience, and she loved the arena here, which is fantastic. You will have to try to stop me now in terms of the puissance!"
Pender, meanwhile, continued his successful Bolesworth show as the former European Pony Championship team silver medallist again showcased outstanding talent.
Based with Irish showjumper Marion Hughes, a winner on Bolesworth's opening day this year, he is among a crop of exciting young showjumping talent who look set for exciting futures at senior level.
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