Many of Ireland’s Olympic team contenders were in action at Ballindenisk International, including Austin O’Connor, Padraig McCarthy and Fred Scala who had travelled over from the UK with special permission to compete, but had to stay in a quarantine compound throughout the competition.

Peter Fell had produced a strong new cross country track, and the event was fortunate to have gained sponsorship from Horse Sport Ireland, NutriScience Equine and Pegus Horse Feeds.

Nutriscience CCI4*-L

It was close at the top after the dressage with Steven Smith and Galwaybay Echo taking the lead on 32.9 just ahead of Michael McNally and Eclipto on 33.1. Both combinations went on to produce clears within the time on the cross country, so the decider came down to the showjumping. Michael and Eclipto jumped clear but with 1.2 time penalties, leaving only 1.4 penalties in hand for Steven Smith. Last to jump Steven and Galwaybay Echo, had a pole down, which dropped them to third place.

Nutriscience CCI4*-L winner: Michael McNally and Eclipto

Michael McNally and Eclipto. (Owner: Michael McNally)
Fred Scala and Everon Vivendi. (Owner: Fred Scala)
Steven Smith and Galwaybay Echo. (Owner: June Burgess)

Nutriscience CCI4*-S

Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound took the lead after dressage on a score of 22.6 in the Nutriscience CCI4*-S. This combination who had won both the CCI4*-S classes in the 2020 Ballindenisk internationals went on to add just 1.6 cross country time penalties leaving them on an unbeatable final score of 24.2.

Sam Watson and Tullabeg Flamenco produced one of two cross country clears within the time allowed to finish on dressage score of 26.9. The other combination clear within the time was Joseph Murphy and Calmaro, who finished in 4^th.

Nutriscience CCI4*-S winner: Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound

Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound. (Owner: Horseware Products Ltd, Niki Potterton and Orla Ennis)
Sam Watson and Tullabeg Flamenco. (Owner: David Bogossian)
Padraig McCarthy and Leonidas II. (Owner:Diane Brunsden,Peter Cattell)

Pegus Horse Feeds CCI3*L

In the CCI3*L it was Joseph Murphy with Choclat who took the victory, finishing on a dressage score of 26.2. Austin O’Connor and Isazsa, finished on 35.5 to take second with Emily Barrett and BGS Mikado taking third on 37.5.

Winner the Pegus Horse Feeds CCI3*L Joseph Murphy and Choclat

Joseph Murphy and Choclat. (Owner: Annette O’Callaghan, Richard Ames and Alan Bell)
Austin O’Connor and Isazsa. (Owner: Lesley Rose)
Emily Barrett and BGS Mikado. (Owner: Kate Barrett)

Pegus Horse Feeds CCI3*S

Only 1.4 penalties separated the top three in the CCI3*-S, but it was Elizabeth Power and Greenfort Gorgeous George who took the win, finishing on a dressage score of 24.8, with Adam Haugh and Van Thee Man who added just 0.4 of a show jumping time penalty taking second on 26.0, and Cathal Daniels and Sammy Davis Junior just 0.2 behind to finish third on 26.2.

Winner of the Pegus Horse Feeds CCI3*S: Elizabeth Power and Greenfort Gorgeous George

Elizabeth Power and Greenfort Gorgeous George. (Owner: Emma MacNamara)
Adam Haugh and Van Thee Man. (Owner: Adam Haugh)
Cathal Daniels and Sammy Davis Junior. (Owner: Margaret Kinsella)

CCI2*-L

The top three all completed on their dressage scores, but it was Clare Abbott and Mr Mighty who took the win on 23.8. Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis finished on 31.7 to take second and Sadhbh Bolger and Into Mischief finished third on 33.4.

Winner of the CCI2*-L Clare Abbott and Mr Mighty

Clare Abbott and Mr Mighty (Owner: Clare Abbott)
Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis (Owner: Gerry Leahy)
Sadhbh Bolger and Into Mischief (Owner: Margaret Bolger)

CCI2*-S

The winner of the CCI2*-S was Amanda Goldsbury and Cavalletti Clover 🇳🇿(NZL) finishing on 24.5. Brian Morrison and Global Theodoros finished on 25.8 to take second and Adam Haugh and Denali took third on 26.7.