The Kiwis are handy enough across the classes now the dressage is complete at the Millstreet International Horse Trials in Ireland, with Virginia Thompson and Katchafire leading the CCI2*-L, while Samatha Lissington remains in 2nd and 3rd in the CCI3*-L.

Laura Collett (GBR) and Dacapo lead the CCI4*-L on 24.3 penalty points with Clarke Johnstone and Aces High the best of the New Zealanders in 10th on 29.8 and Jonelle Price with Killbunny Andy right behind him in 11th on 30. Tim Price is in 13th and 14th with Coup de Coeur Dudevin on 31.7, and Happy Boy on 32.2, with Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ not far back on 32.4. Clarke scored 33.1 aboard both Leopard’s Action and Menlo Park, with Virginia Thompson and Capitaine de Hus Z on 35.8. She and Gladstone scored 39.6 in the 31-strong class.

Samantha Lissington is in second and third with Ricker Ridge Ricochet and Bing Bong on 28.3 and 28.5 respectively in the CCI3*-L. She’s also in eighth with Senor Crocodillo with a score of 30.4 with Amanda Goldsbury aboard Fernhill Inspector in 12th on 31.4, Tim Price aboard Gurtera Jimmy Clover in 17th on 32.2, Clarke Johnstone aboard Domasco on 34.3 and Tim Rusbridge with Inception on 36.9. Laura Collett is at the front of the 51-strong field aboard Outback on a score of 28.2.

Virginia Thompson and Katchafire lead the 35 combinations in the CCI2*-L class, sitting on 30.2 with Jonelle Price and Fernhill Kankan right behind them on 31. Jonelle and Full Monty de Lasense sit on 34.1, with Tim Rusbridge and Ballygriffin Cyril finishing their test for 37.8.
Virginia was really pleased with her youngster.

“He tried very hard and stayed focussed in his test. It is a bit trip for a big young horse and it is great to be off to a good start,” she said.
Kirsty Chabert (GBR) and Classic VI lead the CCI4*-S on 30.8 penalty points with Jonelle and Faerie Dianimo scoring 37.1 in the 27-strong class.

Tim Price and Polystar I are the only Kiwis in the CCI3*-S class and sit in third on 30.5, just behind leader Adam Haugh (IRL) and Van Thee Man in the 42-strong class.

Tonight is a busy night for the event, with both showjumping and cross country tests being run across the grades.

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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