Irish Horses Reign High at Badminton Horse Trials 2019

Francis Murray General May 7, 2019

Last week at the Badminton Horse Trials was an excellent week for the Irish. The top six placed horses were Irish Sport Horses, as well as eight out of the top ten. Fifteen horses out of the top 20 were Irish-bred including three Traditional Irish Horses in 15th, 16th and 17th, and a Badminton record-breaking dressage score was set by an Irish Sport Horse.

The win was snatched for the first time by 25-time five-star competitor Piggy French (GBR), and her quirky Irish Sport Horse mare Vanir Kamira (Camiro De Haar Z x Dixi) in an incredibly tense final phase, when she put in a foot-perfect show jumping round pushing Kentucky Three Day Event 2019 winner Oliver Townend (GBR) and Irish Sport Horse Eventing legend Ballaghmor Class (by Courage II) into second place. Third and fourth place went to Christopher Burton (AUS) with Irish Sport Horses Cooley Lands (Cavalier Land x Clover Hill) and Graf Liberty (Limmerick x Cavalier Royale), and fifth place went to Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Irish Sport Horse Swallow Springs (Chillout x Cult Hero). Oliver Townend claimed his second top-ten position in sixth with Cillnabradden Evo, the Irish Sport Horse who shone on the first day of dressage, setting the lowest ever dressage score at the Badminton Horse Trials, scoring just 19.7. Eighth place was also taken by an Irish Sport Horse, Ivar Gooden (Young Convinced x Coevers Diamond Boy) with Imogen Murray (GBR), and tenth place went to Burghley 2018 winners Tim Price (NZL) and Irish Sport Horse Ringwood Sky Boy (Courage II x Sky Boy).

Included in the top 20 were seven more Irish-bred horses:

• Euro Prince (ISH) (by Loughries Quiet Man) with Clare Abbott (IRL) in 12th.
• November Night (ISH)[TIH] (Bonnie Prince x Flagmount King) with Ciaran Glynn (IRL) in 14th.
• Lassban Diamond Lift (ISH)[TIH] (Easy Lift x Diamond Chin) in 15th.
• Majas Hope (ISH)[TIH] (Porter Rhodes x Flagmount King) with Pippa Funnell (GBR) in 16th.
• Dunlough Striker (ISH) (Maltstriker x Beau Royale) with Michael Ryan (IRL) in 17th.
• MGH Bingo Boy (ISH) with Nicky Hill (GBR) in 18th.
• Arctic Soul (TB) (Luso x Roi Danzig) with Gemma Tattersall (GBR) in 20th.

Of the final finishers (56), there were 25 Irish-bred horses (over 40%) and 60% of those finished inside the top 20. The Irish horse’s success at this level further cements the fact that Irish horses are built for success at the very top level of Eventing.

Full breeding details below:

1. Vanir Kamira (ISH) – 2005 mare by Camiro De Haar Z (ZANG) out of Fair Caledonian (WNTR) by Dixi (TB). Breeder: Kathryn Jackson, Co. Monaghan. Owner: Trevor Dickens. Rider: Piggy French (GBR).

2. Ballaghmor Class (ISH) – 2007 gelding by Courage II (HOLST) out of Kilderry Place (ISH). Breeder: Noel Hickey, Co. Limerick. Owner: Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan. Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR).

3. Cooley Lands (ISH) – 2008 gelding by Cavalier Land (ISH) out of Clover Light Girl (ISH)[TIH] by Clover Hill (ID). Breeder: Peter Rice, Co. Monaghan. Owner: Joe Walls. Rider: Christopher Burton (AUS).

4. Graf Liberty (ISH) – 2005 gelding by Limmerick (HOLST) out of Lisheen Star (ISH) by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Breeder: Brian Livingstone, Co. Down. Owner: The Graf Liberty Syndicate & Christopher Burton. Rider: Christopher Burton (AUS).

5. Swallow Springs (ISH) – 2008 gelding by Chillout (ISH) out of Kilila (ISH) by Cult Hero (TB). Breeder: Maria Keating, Co. Galway. Owner: Paul & Diana Ridgeon. Rider: Andrew Nicholson (NZL).

6. Cillnabradden Evo (ISH) – 2006 gelding by S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe (KWPN) out of Willow Garden (ISH) by King Henry (ID). Breeder: Tom & Orla Holden, Co. Meath. Owner: Sally-Anne Egginton. Rider: Oliver Townend (GBR).

8. Ivar Gooden (ISH) – 2007 gelding by Young Convinced (TB) out of Ballybrohan Diamond (ISH) by Coevers Diamond Boy (ISH). Breeder: Pat Coffey, Co. Tipperary. Owner: Aivar Ward and M S Team. Rider: Imogen Murray (GBR).

10. Ringwood Sky Boy (ISH) – 2003 gelding by Courage II (HOLST) out of Sky Lassie (ISH), by Sky Boy (TB). Breeder: Myles Mahon, Co.Wexford. Owners: Varenna Allen, Tim Price & Robert Taylor. Rider: Tim Price (NZL).

12. Euro Prince (ISH) – 2003 gelding by Lougheries Quiet Man (UNK) out of Miss Tullydraw (UNK). Breeder & Owner: Cormac McKay, Co. Armagh. Rider: Clare Abbott (IRL).

14. November Night (ISH)[TIH] – 2006 mare by Bonnie Prince (TB) out of Coolnalee Kate (ISH) by Flagmount King (ID). Breeder: Pat Doherty, Co. Waterford. Owner: Susanna Francke & Peter Cole. Rider: Ciaran Glynn (IRL).

15. Lassban Diamond Lift (ISH)[TIH] – 2008 gelding by Easy Lift (TB) out of Lassban Chow Bella (ISH)[TIH] by Diamond Chin (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Messrs Maloney & Merrigan, Co. Offaly. Owner: Elisabeth Murdoch. Rider: Bill Levett (AUS).

16. Majas Hope (ISH)[TIH] – 2007 gelding by Porter Rhodes (TB) out of Brown Sue (ISH)[TIH] by Flagmount King (ID). Breeder: Jack Murphy, Co. Kilkenny. Rider: Pippa Funnell (GBR).

17. Dunlough Striker (ISH) – 2005 gelding by Maststriker (KWPN) out of Beau Rua (ISH)[TIH] by Beau Royale (TB). Breeder: Kevin Nolan, Co. Clare. Owner: Carol & Tom Henry. Rider: Michael Ryan (IRL).

18. MGH Bingo Boy (UNK) – 2008 gelding. Owner & Rider: Nicky Hill (GBR).

20. Arctic Soul (TB) – 2003 gelding by Luso (TB) out of Dream Cocktail (TB) by Roi Danzig (TB). Breeder: Michael Whitty. Owner: The Soul Syndicate & Gemma Tattersall. Rider: Gemma Tattersall (GBR).

25. Cooley Ramiro (ISH) – 2007 gelding by Ramiro B (BWP) out of Ordela Royale (ISH) by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Breeder: Caroline Byrne, Co. Wicklow. Owner: Balcarres Eventing Syndicate. Rider: Wills Oakden (GBR).

36. Possible Mission (ISH) – 2007 gelding by Temple Clover (ISH)[TIH] out of Bahrain Supreme (ISH) by Ricardo Z (ZANG). Breeder: Richard Barron Jr., Co. Waterford. Owner: Robin Patrick. Rider: Tom Rowland (GBR).

40. Halltown Harley (ISH) – 2006 gelding by Harlequin Du Carel (SF) out of Cummer Beauty (ISH) by Clover Hill (ID). Breeder: Michael Ryan, Co. Tipperary. Owner: Suzanne Doggett & Georgie Spence. Rider: Georgie Spence (GBR).

45. Balladeer Miller Man (ISH)[TIH] – 2007 gelding by Stormhill Miller (TB) out of Kintara Pride (ISH)[TIH] by Porter Rhodes (TB). Breeder: Breda Quigley, Co. Wexford. Owner: Alli Haynes. Rider: Louise Harwood (GBR).

47. The Lion (ISH) – 2002 gelding by Ricardo Z (ZANG) out of Cartron Countess (ISH)[TIH] by Nad Elshiba (TB). Breeder: Sean Donohoe, Co. Longford. Owner: Emma Clarke, Matthew Heath & Clare Davis. Rider: Matthew Heath (GBR).

48. Camembert (ISH) – 2005 gelding by Courage II (HOLST) out of Skehanagh Diamond Lass (ISH)[TIH] by Colin Diamond (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: John Freeman, Co. Galway. Owner: Nigel Philp. Rider: Emily Philp (GBR).

49. Pennlands Douglas (ISH) – 2005 gelding by ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN) out of Currabawn Cavalier (ISH). Breeder: Finola Sullivan-Heslin, Co. Longford. Owner and Rider: Emma Hyslop-Webb (GBR).

54. Proud Courage (ISH) – 2005 gelding by Courage II (HOLST) out of Coolmore Panther (ISH)[TIH] by Proud Panther (TB). Breeder: William Martin, Co. Wexford. Owner and Rider: Nicholas Lucey (GBR).

55. Simply Clover (UNK) – 2005 mare by Farney Clover (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Gerry Moran. Owner and Rider: Hazel Towers (GBR).

56. HD Bronze (ISH) – 2006 gelding by Limmerick (HOLST) out of Northern Madera (TB) by Toca Madera (TB). Breeder: Declan Phillips, Co. Antrim. Owner: Carole Mutch. Rider: Harry Mutch (GBR).