Samantha Lissington is firing on all cylinders on the opening day of competition at the Millstreet International Horse Trials in Ireland, sitting in second and third spots in the CCIs*-L.

She is just .1 of a penalty point shy of leader, Badminton winner Laura Collett (GBR) who sits on 28.2 aboard Outback. Samantha and Ricker Ridge Ricochet scored 28.3 and Bing Bong, 28.5. She’s also in eighth spot with Senor Crocodillo on 30.4 in the 51-strong field.

Amanda Goldsbury and Fernhill Inspector are in 12th with their 31.4 effort, with Tim Price and Gurtera jimmy Clover in 17th on 32.2, Clarke Johnstone and Domasco scored 34.3, and Tim Rusbridge aboard Inception 36.9.

Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo scored 37.1 in the CCI4*-S which is being led by Kirsty Chabert (GBR) aboard Classic VI on 30.8.

Tim Price and Polystar I are handy in the 42-strong CCI3*-S with their 30.5 penalty point effort. Adam Haugh (IRL) and Van Three Man lead on 29.7.

Clarke Johnstone and Aces High will be the first combination out tonight in the CCI4*-L with Virginia Thompson and Capitaine de Hus Z third to go and Tim Price with Happy Boy fifth in the 31-strong field. Following them later in the day are Jonelle Price with Killbunny Andy, Clarke with Leopard’s Action, Samantha aboard Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ, Virginia Thompson on Gladstone and Clarke, the last to go, aboard Menlo Park.

Jonelle Price and Full Monty de Lacense are early on in the CCI2*-L class which has attracted 35 entries. Virginia Thompson aboard Katchafire, Tim Rusbridge on Ballygriffin Cyril, and Jonelle with Fernhill Kankan are later in the day.

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THE HORSE DETAILS:
Happy Boy – owned by Susan Lamb and Therese Miller
Coup de Coeur Dudevin – owned by Jean-Louis Stauffer
Killbunny Andy – owned by Therese Miller and Constance Edmundson
Aces High – owned by Jean, Rob and Clarke Johnstone
Menlo Park – owned by Jean, Rob and Clarke Johnstone
Leopard’s Action – owned by Jean, Rob and Clarke Johnstone
Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ – owned by Pip McCarroll and Samantha Lissington
Capitaine De Hus Z – owned by David and Karie Thomson and Virginia Thompson
Gladstone – owned by Elaine Butterworth, Anthony Quirk and Virginia Thompson
Faerie Dianimo – owned by Trisha Rickards, Jacky Green and Jonelle Price
Ricker Ridge Ricochet – owned by Samantha Lissington
Senor Crocodillo – owned by Alexander and Joseph Giannamore
Bing Bong – owned by Alexander and Joseph Giannamore
Gurtera Jimmy Clover – owned by Michael McGrath
Domasco – owned by Clarke Johnstone
Fernhill Inspector – owned by Nicola Roden
Inception – owned by Tim Rusbridge
Polystar I – owned by Trisha Rickards
Katchafire – owned by Phillippa Levy, Ross Milne and Virginia Thompson
Full Monty de Lacense – owned by Jackie Oliver, Kate Holmes and Jo Pidduck
Fernhill Kankan – owned by Therese Miller and Julia Lukas
Ballygriffin Cyril – owned by Mark & Cassie Whitney and Tim Rusbridge

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ