€50,000 Irish

Breeders’

Classic looming

Excitement is building ahead of the fourth annual €50,000 Irish Breeders’ Classic, set to take place in Barnadown, Gorey, next Saturday 5 September.

The event is confined to Irish-born five and six-year-old horses, with a separate section for four-year-olds. The main aim is to boost demand for horses bred by Irish breeders. The Classic is a part of a packed five-day show in Barnadown. In a change this year, it will run on the Saturday, as will the Goresbridge Irish Breeders Foal Sale and the Seafield Hotel Donkey Derby. General admission is free of charge.

Millstreet CIC***

Dublin-born Aoife Clark was best of the Irish at Millstreet’s Drishane Castle event in Co Cork last Sunday. Clark and Fernhill Adventure (ISH) finished in third in the CIC*** on a score of 48.60, just behind two New Zealand riders, runner-up Tim Price with Bango on 47.60 and winner Jesse Campbell on Kaapachino with a finishing penalty score of 44.30.

In the CIC** event, Clark was runner-up on Rienroe Lucky Ranger (ISH) at 48.00, with first place again going to New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell, this time partnering Cleveland. Lucy Latta (18) claimed fifth place for Ireland with Cleo Ferro (ISH).

Bronze medal

There was bronze medal glory for Ireland at the European Young Rider Eventing Championships in Strzegom, Poland.

The Irish Gain Horse Feeds team finished on a total of 164.80, holding off a challenge from the Swedish team, who completed on 181.90. Gold went to Britain with 128.10, while the silver medal was claimed by Germany with a score of 140.40.