Podium Place for Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials

Austin O’Connor with COLORADO BLUE (IRL) -during the cross country at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

🥉 3rd – Austin O’Connor & Colorado Blue

Dressage: 30.8 (20^th place)
Cross-Country: Clear inside the time. (4^th place)
Show Jumping: 0.4 time penalties
Final Score: 31.2

A wonderful result for Ireland, with four-time Olympian and Maryland 5* winner, Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue  (more often called Salty) gaining their podium place at Badminton for the second time, having achieved the same position in 2023 (in very different ground conditions). The podium in 2023 was almost identical, with Ros Canter taking the honours with Lordship Graffalo, Oliver Townend taking second with Ballaghmor Class (ISH), and repeating that placing this time with Cooley Rosalent (ISH) and Austin and Salty in third.

Colorado Blue, by Jaguar Mail, was bred by in Ireland by Kate Jarvey, and is owned by The Salty Syndicate.

Austin  and Colorado Blue now hold the best-ever Irish finishing score at Badminton.

Ian Cassells with MASTER POINT [ISH] (IRL) during the cross country at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

13th – Ian Cassells & Master Point

Dressage: 30.7 (18th)
Cross-Country: 3.6 time penalties (10^th place after cross country)
Show Jumping: 12 penalties and 2.4 time penalties
Final Score: 48.7

In his Badminton debut, Ian Cassells delivered an outstanding performance, securing a Top 20 finish and setting a new personal best at CCI5* level. He was a little disappointed that the final phase did not quite go to plan, as he had finished cross-country in the Top 10.

Master Point (ISH)(TIH) – 2013 bay gelding by Pointilliste (USA)(TB) out of Chikari (ISH) by Kings Master (ISH). Ownr/Breeder: Bridget McGing. Rider: Ian Cassells (IRL)

Georgie Goss with FELOUPE (IRL) during the cross country at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

28^th Georgie Goss & Feloupe

Dressage Score: 29.6 (11^th Personal Best at CCI5* level)
Cross-Country: 29.2 time penalties (36^th)
Show Jumping: 4 penalties and 0.8 time penalties
Final Score: 63.6

Susie Berry with CLEVER TRICK [ISH] (IRL) during the cross country at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

29th – Susie Berry & Clever Trick

Dressage: 36.5 (52nd)
Cross-Country: 20.4 time penalties (33^rd)
Show Jumping: 8 penalties
Final Score: 64.9

Clever Trick (ISH)[was Kilcandra Bonnie Reward] – 2012 mare by Financial Reward (TB)[IRL] out of Bonnie Dolly [ISH] by Bonnie Prince (TB). Breeder: Kilcandra Stud (Wicklow).Owner(s): Sue Wilkinson and Anne Marling

Joseph Murphy with CALMARO (IRL) during the cross country at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

33rd – Joseph Murphy & Calmaro

Dressage: 32.6 (26th)
Cross-Country: 21.6 time penalties (30^th)
Show Jumping: 16 penalties plus 2 time penalties
Final Score: 72.2

CALMARO. Sire Carpalano. Dam Elester (Elsurimo). Breeder Mr Hartmut Schack. Owner(s): Annette O’Callaghan , Richard and Tanya Ames , Charlie & Clare Mayne

Patrick Whelan with IKOON LAN (IRL) during the cross country at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

36^th Patrick Whelan & Ikoon Lan

Dressage Score: 34.4 (=39^th)
Cross-Country: Clear round with 27.2 time penalties (40^th)
Show Jumping: 16 jumping faults and 0.8 time penalties
Final Score: 78.4

Patrick completed the cross-country phase despite a broken martingale at fence 4 left him carrying the broken section of martingale  in his left hand for the rest of the course.

Sam Watson BALLYNEETY ROCKETMAN [ISH] (IRL) during the cross country at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

40th – Sam Watson & Ballyneety Rocketman

Dressage: 40.5 (72nd)
Cross-Country: 20 jumping penalties plus 20.8 penalties (49^th)
Show Jumping: 4 penalties and 0.4 time
Final Score: 85.7

BALLYNEETY ROCKETMAN (ISH) – 2014 bay gelding by Diamond Discovery (USA TB) out of Ballyneety Macrocket (ISH) by Errigal Flight (ISH). Breeder: James Hickey (Limerick). Owner:Hannah Watson

Joseph Murphy with BELLINE FIGHTING SPIRIT (IRL) during the cross country at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

49th – Joseph Murphy & Belline Fighting Spirit

Dressage: 39.2 (64th)
Cross-Country: 20 jumping penalties  plus 31.6 penalties (54^th)
Show Jumping: 8 penalties plus 1.6 time penalties
Final Score: 100.4

Belline Fighting Spirit: Sire Freeman VDL. Dam Zominga (Lupicor). Breeder Mr G Winkel Owner(s): The Kindred Spirit Syndicate

Sarah Ennis and Grantstown Jackson in the dressage at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

53rd – Sarah Ennis & Grantstown Jackson

Dressage: 35.6 (48th)
Cross-Country: 40 jumping penalties plus 49.6 time penalties (60^th)
Show Jumping: 4 penalties plus 1.2 time penalties
Final Score: 130.4

Grantstown Jackson (ISH)[TIH] – 2011 gelding by Clover Brigade (ISH)[TIH] out of Winning Lass (TB) by Right Win (TB)[IRL]. Breeder: Caroline Widger. Owner(s): Peter Cole & Susanna Francke

❌ Withdrawals & Eliminations

Eliminated on Cross-Country:

Daragh Byrne & Kilcannon Ramiro

Armada Dish for Sam Watson

Sam Watson was presented with the Armada Dish at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

Top 10 results for Irish-bred horses

Oliver Townend with COOLEY ROSALENT [ISH] (GBR) during the cross country at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

Oliver Townend and the  11-year-old mare Cooley Rosalent (ISH) bred in Co Armagh by Woods Rosbotham, finished as runner-up at the 2025 MARS Badminton Horse Trial.. Cooley Rosalent (ISH) held the lead following the Dressage and Country phases, before a single fence down in the final jumping phase saw the pair finish on a score of 26.3 in runner-up spot.

Cooley Rosalent (ISH) has now been first, second and third at five-star level, including a win at the 2024 Kentucky five-star in the USA.

 

Harry Meade with CAVALIER CRYSTAL [ISH} (GBR) during the cross country at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*
© Pam Cunningham/Irish Eventing Times

Harry Meade took fourth place with Cavalier Crystal (ISH), finishing on a score of 33.8.