Clark’s Adventure continues with second place in France

Aoife Clark continues to tap into a rich vein of form, giving Ireland its best ever result at the World Breeding Championships for Young Eventing Horses in Le Lion d’Angers, France, when second on Fernhill Adventure in the class for seven-year-olds.

Mon, 21 Oct, 2013 - 01:00

Bred by Kanturk’s Mary Quinlivan and owned by Richard Last, the bay gelding jumped a clear cross-country. He lowered one fence in yesterday’s show jumping phase for a total of 45.10pens, but this was good enough to elevate Kildare’s Clark one place, as eight faults dropped overnight leader Mathieu Lemoine (Bart L) to third on 45.80pens.

France’s Thomas Carlile and Sirocco du Gers took gold on their dressage score of 38.10pens, having also filled first place in the championship for six-year-olds with Tenareze.

At the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Conor Swail marked his first

visit in stunning fashion, adding victory in the $85,000 Grand Prix de Penn National to his win in Thursday’s $40,000 Pennsylvania Big Jump.

The Down rider’s performances earned him the Leading Rider prize, and came after Offaly’s Darragh Kenny’s won the Gambler’s Choice on Top Gun IV and the $33,000 Keystone Classic with Prof de la Roque to claim the speed championship title.

In Helsinki, Finland, Shane Breen’s third place in the World Cup qualifier with Balloon moved the Tipperary rider to fifth place in the Western European League and earned him €18,000. The performance made up for a disappointing World Cup opener in Oslo last week and came with a double clear that was bettered only by Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and his Olympic gold medalist Nino des Buissonnets, and winner France’s Patrice Delaveau and Orient Express.

Balloon also carried Breen to third in Saturday’s grand prix.

Capt Michael Kelly has extended his lead in the Gain/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix League, victory with Mo Chroi in Cavan yesterday putting him on 26 points with three legs remaining. Alexander Butler was runner-up on Will Wimble, moving him to second place in the league on 18 points.