Mixed weekend for Murphy

Eventing rider Joseph Murphy experienced the highs and lows of the sport at Pau, France, at the weekend, the former seeing him achieve a career best fifth place in a four-star event with Sportsfield Othello.

The low at the FEI Classics event came earlier when, with Murphy lying in second place aboard Electric Cruise, the gelding failed to pass the trot-up inspection, as a result of an injury to a hind fetlock sustained in Saturday’s cross-country phase. Murphy, however, was stoic last night, saying “that’s the ups and downs of the sport, though I’m delighted with my end result of fifth with Sportsfield Othello”.

The misfortune left Murphy in third place with Othello going into yesterday’s show jumping, but the Co Down rider lowered three fences to complete on 68.2 penalties, just over 24 adrift of German winner Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob.

Irish riders failed to make an impression in yesterday’s World Cup contest in Helsinki, Finland, with both Tipperary’s Shane Breen and Mayo’s Cameron Hanley going out of contention in round one. Breen and Golden Hawk finished on four faults, while German-based Hanley put up five faults on Living The Dream.

Victory went to Swiss Olympic champion Steve Guerdat (Nino des Buissonnets).

On Friday, Breen notched up a speed class win on Calido Boy.