Townend is going for gold

Britain’s Ollie Townend returns to the Johnson and Perrott Land Rover Ballindenisk International Horse Trials on a horse he’s nicknamed Imperial Disaster, and Bandon-based Michael Ryan feels he’s still a good bet to win the Goresbridge Go For Gold €50,000 bonus.

Townend is the only rider who can take the prize after winning the first two legs last September and April.

While he has opted to bring back his 2012 winner, the mercurial Imperial Master (aka Imperial Disaster), Ryan feels the Briton’s propensity for winning means he cannot bediscounted.

“Without a doubt, Ollie’s the danger man. He’s a winner, a great horseman. You have to put your money on him, but this is a sport where anything could go wrong. No matter how good you are, you still need a little bit of luck on the day,” said Ryan, speaking at the announcement of details of the four-day event, which begins on September 19.

Townend will be among riders from six nations, including his compatriot and double European champion Pippa Funnell, competing on 180 horses, and he acknowledges he may not have the smoothest of rides.

“It’s a great opportunity, but I am having to rely on the most unreliable event horse I have possibly sat on,” said the Shropshire-based Townend.

The Irish challenge will come from the likes of last week’s European Championships team members Sarah Ennis and Joseph Murphy.

Ryan’s focus is on the short format two-star class with Ballylynch Wizard and he has already turned on the magic with Carol and Tom Henry’s 11-year-old gelding, having won at international fixtures thissummer in Kilguilkey, north Cork; and Camphire, Co Waterford; while also topping the leaderboard in last Sunday’s Connolly’s Red MillsEventing SuperLeague Championship at Tattersalls. It’s understandable, then, that Limerickman Ryan is positive about his prospects.

“Ballindenisk has been a very good hunting ground for me in the national events. Internationally, the spring event here has always been better for me than the autumn. I felt I was unlucky not to win the two-star class here last year; my horse spread a shoe in the box and got a nail in his hoof and was in the lead going into the cross-country phase,” said Ryan, who saddles up four horses, while his wife Trish competes three.

Ballindenisk runs on September 19-22, with dressage on the first two days, followed by cross-country, and concluding with show jumping on Sunday.

As a taster, a winner-takes-all €1,000 dressage contest will take place on the lawns of Castlemartyr Resort.

* The Irish Examiner has teamed up with the organisers to offer a lucky reader a fantastic prize, which includes a two-night stay for two in theCastlemartyr Resort and lunch for six at Ballindenisk trials on two days. For further details see page 6 of today’s Irish Examiner. Entry is free at www.irishexaminer.com.