Irish Sport Horse Castlefield Eclipse wins Salzburg Grand Prix

Francis Murray General December 10, 2013

Sunday 8th December saw Switzerland’s Paul Estermann and the Irish Sport Horse Castlefield Eclipse claim the CSI4* Sportland Salzburg Grand Prix. Estermann and Castlefield Eclipse fought off a strong field which saw combinations such as dual Olympian Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum riding her London 2012 mount Bella Donna settling for 3rd place.

This October Estermann also rode the Irish bred mare to win the Menerbio CSI2* Grand Prix. Previous to this the pair were members of the Swiss Nations Cup team who placed 2nd in both St. Gallen and La Baule. Castlefield Eclipse became the highest placed Irish Sport Horse in the 2013 World Breeding Federation for Sport Horse (WBFSH) Showjumping rankings. As a result of her achievement Castlefield Eclipse’s breeder, Pat Nihill from County Clare, was presented with an award at Horse Sport Ireland’s (HSI) annual Breeders Awards nights.

The 2002 mare is by the Kennedy Equine Center owned sire OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Pat Nihill’s Irish Sport Horse mare Furisto Clover Hill, by Furisto (HANN).

Castlefield Eclipse’s breeder Pat Nihill accepting his award from HSI Breeding sub-board Chairman Jim Beecher

Breeding details: Castlefield Eclipse (ISH) – 2002 bay mare by O.B.O.S. Quality 004 (OLD) out of Furisto Clover Hill
(ISH), by Furisto (HANN). Bred by Pat Nihill, Bridgetown, O’Brien’s Bridge, Co. Clare. Owner: Fasana
Jocelyne.