The flags of Australia, Denmark, Great Britain, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland and host nation Ireland were flying for the Necarne Castle International Horse Trials which is now in its fifteenth year.
There were five classes – CCI**, CIC**,CCI*, CCIJ* and CCNP**.
In the CCI** Matthew Wright (GBR) completed on his dressage score of 46.5 with Caunton Welldone to take the honours in this class while his other ride, Hugginstown, with less than a pena
lty point behind after dressage had two down in the show jumping phase but still managed to take second place. J.P.Sheffield (GBR) and Riverside James were third, closely followed by Australian rider Brook Staples (Tova). In fifth slot was Malt on the Rocks with Vittoria Panizzon who also represented her country, Italy, at the recent Olympics in Hong Kong.
Winner of the Herbert Eakin Trophy for best placed Northern Region rider in this class, was Richard Irwin from Portadown with Youngstars Mombasa.
Northern Ireland Dressage presented a rug to the Northern Region rider with best dressage and this went to Rachel Ferres who hails from Carrickfergus.
Like Matthew Wright, Portuguese rider Duarte Seabra also had a great event taking the top two places in the CIC** with Euro Treble and Gloster Rebel. Michael Ryan (IRL) and Dances with Wolves who led after dressage had four down show jumping which dropped them to third place.
Irish riders dominated in the CCI* class taking the top six places, here the show jumping proved influential and making the most significant move in the field was Rory O'Hare (Political Diamond) 26th after dressage, a clear cross country moved them to 10th and again a clean sheet show jumping promoted them to third just behind Alex Kinsella (Lady Carmen) and Ciaran Glynn (Killossery Kruista) first and second respectively.
The Sam Moore Trophy for top Northern Region competitor was presented by Nigel Moore to Jayne Doherty and Ravenstar. The recipient of the rug for best dressage by a Northern Region rider was presented by Ethna Smyth to Suzanne Jordan (Carneyhaugh Conquistador).
The CCIJ* class for riders aged between fourteen and eighteen, attracted some competitors from Great Britain. However a double clear cross country and show jumping from Irish rider Brian Morrison (Oakengrove Magic) moved them from 15th place after dressage to win the class.
In the CCNP** pony class the visiting British team took the spoils with David Hannigan (Castleview Rakish Milly) best of the Irish in sixth place. The winner was Fran Reeve and Joker.
Amanda Lilley of Equus in Moira very kindly presented a generous prize for the most elegantly dressed rider at 'trot-up' and consequently dashing local rider, Joseph Murphy from Killyleagh will be trotting along to Equus to select his winter wardrobe.The Organising Committee of Necarne Castle International Horse Trials would like to thank all the sponsors whose generosity is crucial to staging an international event of this calibre. Thanks are also due to the many volunteers who helped in whatever capacity to make this event such a great success.
Results for Necarne Castle (IRL) 18th – 21st September 2008
CCI**: 1st Matthew Wright, Caunton Welldone (GBR) (46.5]; 2nd Matthew Wright, Hugginstown (GBR) (54.7]; 3rd John Paul Sheffield, Riverside James (GBR) (56.3]; 4th Brook Staples, Tova (AUS) (58.1]; 5th Vittoria Panizzon, Malt on the Rocks (ITA) (59.0]; 6th Helen Wilson, Burnt Cohiba (GBR) (65.3]; 7th Ciaran Glynn, Killossery Buddy (IRL) (66.0]
CIC**: 1st Duarte Seabra, Euro Treble (POR) (69.8]; 2nd Duarte Seabra, Gloster Rebel (POR) (70.5]; 3rd Michael Ryan, Dances with Wolves (IRL) (72.1]; 4th Oliver Townsend, ODT Kings Jasper (GBR) (76.7]; 5th Patricia Ryan, Fernhill Skyport (IRL) (79.8]; 6th Ross Crawford, Jupiter du Thot (IRL) (80.1]
CCI*: 1st Alex Kinsella, Lady Carmen (IRL) (51.6]; 2nd Ciaran Glynn, K.Kruisita (IRL) (53.1]; 3rd Rory O'Hare, Political Diamond (IRL) (56.2]; 4th Jayne Doherty, Ravenstar (IRL) (56.4]; 5th Joseph Murphy, Electric Cruise (IRL) (57.4]; 6th Jane O'Flynn, Kate McClaren (IRL) (58.3]; 7th Oliver Townsend, Bluestone Curtis (GBR) (59.5]; 8th Ashleigh Rea, Touch 'n' Go (IRL) (63.0]; 9th Michael Ryan, Dromgurrihy Blue (IRL) (63.3]; 10th James O'Haire, Primo Versace (ISH) (IRL) (65.2]
CCIJ*: 1st Brian Morrison, Oakengrove Magic (IRL) (61.1]; 2nd Peter Hannigan, First Mate (IRL) (61.6]; 3rd Meghan Healy, Moyglas Mister Blue (IRL) (62.1]; 4th Posy De Walden, C Jay II (GBR) (65.9]; 5th Angus Humpfrey (GBR) ( 66.3]; 6th Poppy Law, Westwinds Debonaire (IRL) (70.1]; 7th Poppy de Courcey Wheeler, Capercaille (IRL) (70.5]
CCNP**: 1st Joker, Fran Reeve (GBR) (51.4]; 2nd Sophie Martin, Trewithian Bracken (GBR) (51.6]; 3rd Laura Ritchie- Bland, Russelstown Prince (GBR) (53.5]; 4th Lottie Kennedy, Darraks Tonto (GBR) (55.4]; 5th Lauren Cranham, Tangley Dark Rum (GBR) (56.1]; 6th David Hannigan, Castleview Rakish Milly (IRL) (56.6]
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