A double clear performance earned Joseph Murphy and Westwinds Hercules the Pegus Horse Feed CIC** title this afternoon at the Kilguilkey House International Horse Trials in Mallow, Co. Cork. Following the withdrawal of overnight leader Luke Drea, the World Equestrian Games squad member skillfully negotiated the Eric Winter designed Cross Country track with Alison Schmutz and Andrew Tinkler’s Ramiro B gelding to move up from the 4^th position he occupied after dressage and showjumping. Patricia Ryan came close to keeping the CIC** title in Co. Cork for a second year, taking 2^nd place with Carol and Tom Henry’s Dunrath Eclipse which meant the Dan Coleman Perpetual Trophy for the Highest Placed Munster Rider remains in the Donegan-Ryan household for another year. Felicity Ward’s short journey to the event proved worthwhile when she took third place with The Illusionist.

In the Fernhill Sport Horses CIC* competition, former Pony eventing medallist Lucy Latta recorded her first CIC* win with Jessica Harrington’s ‘Jantar.’ The leaderboard remained relatively unchanged after dressage and showjumping with Fraser Duffy finishing the weekend in second position with Fernhill Nearly Darc while Camilla Speirs took third and fourth place ahead with BT Cloud Nine and BT Pickapocket.

Competition at Kilguilkey was particularly important for those vying to impress the team selectors for the 2014 FEI European Championships for Ponies. The CNCP** was won by Emma Kennedy with Laburnum Ineer, finishing ahead of Jessica Kuehnle and Lucy Hancock. With the Championships taking place in Millstreet in 5 weeks time, all eyes will now be on Team Selector Polly Holohan who is expected to announce her team in the coming week. Hannah Adams and Toberpatrick Flash took home the hydeequine.com CNCP1* Championship title which ran concurrently with the event.

Now in its second year, the event received great feedback from riders, visitors and officials alike and the presence of Pegus Horse Feed and Fernhill Sport Horses as title sponsors was greatly appreciated. The organisers are also grateful for the support of a wide range of sponsors and supporters from across the country.

Full results from all classes are available on www.eventingireland.com.

(Pictured: CIC* Winner – Lucy Latta, Jantar)

Luke Drea heads the Pegus Horse Feed CIC** leaderboard at the Kilguilkey House International Horse Trials following the conclusion of the first two phases today. Under clear blue skies, the Wicklow-based rider impressed the judges with Anne Bannon’s ‘Gorsehill Pearl’ in the dressage arena and went on to record a faultless performance in the showjumping ring. Cork’s Patricia Ryan lies in second place with Carol and Tom Henry’s Ballylynch HP while Irish Olympian Joseph Murphy completes the top three with Westwinds Hercules (owned by Alison Schmutz and Andrew Tinkler).

In the Fernhill Sport Horses CIC* competition, former Pony eventing medallist Lucy Latta leads the field with Jessica Harrington’s ‘Jantar.’ Fraser Duffy lies in second position with Fernhill Nearly Darc while Camilla Speirs takes third and fourth place ahead of tomorrow’s final Cross Country phase with BT Cloud Nine and BT Pickapocket.

Meanwhile, the short-listed ponies vying for team places in the FEI European Championships for Ponies have been in action this afternoon. After two phases, the CNCP** is led by Emma Kennedy with Laburnum Ineer while Hannah Adams and Toberpatrick Flash head the leaderboard in the hydeequine.com CNCP1* Championship which is running concurrently with the event.

Tomorrow, the focus turns to the cross-country course; where once again, International designer Eric Winter has posed some interesting questions. The track features twenty-one natural fences including banks, logs, ditches and water. The course has a good cover of grass and the ground has been aerovated to ensure perfect going.

Now in its second year, the event is continuing to grow from strength to strength and the organisers are delighted to welcome Pegus Horse Feed and Fernhill Sport Horses on board as title sponsors for this year’s event. The organisers are also grateful for the support of a wide range of sponsors and supporters from across the country.

The Cross Country phase gets underway at Kilguilkey House from 10am tomorrow with a range of National classes scheduled to start at the same time. For the first time, the CIC* and CIC** classes will be available to watch live on the Kilguilkey House website. Further information is available on www.eventingireland.com or www.kilguilkeyhouse.com.

Results to Date (Eventing Ireland)

Michael Ryan held onto his overnight lead to win the feature class at the inaugural Kilguilkey House International Horse Trials today. Riding Carol & Tom Henry’s ‘Ballylynch Wizard,’ the London 2012 team rider added just two time penalties to his dressage score; keeping him ahead of his wife Patricia with Tullineaskey Hi-Ho on her return to International competition after an injury earlier in the eventing season. Michael’s victory also secures him the Dan Coleman Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the best Munster-based rider.

The cross country phase brought competitors across 3km of undulating farm land over a course designed by Great Britain’s Eric Winter. Blue skies and temperatures in the mid-twenties replaced the early morning mist and the going proved ideal across all classes.

In the CIC* competition, a clear round across the country led to the Army Equitation School’s Capt. Brian Curran Cournane retaining his position at the top of the leaderboard. Rodney O’ Donnell completed just one penalty behind with his own Hillcrest Harry.Meanwhile, in the hydeequine.com CNCP1* Championship which took place alongside the International classes, victory went the way of Lucy Hancock riding Comical Con.

The inaugural running of this event was warmly received by competitors and spectators alike and Event Director Danny Dulohery was delighted with the feedback he has received. ‘Despite the relatively low number of entries, we would like to thank everyone for the incredible support we have received. The important thing is that every horse and rider got home safely. We will continue to improve our events and we’re looking ahead to next year already!’

Following their diversification from farming to equestrian enterprise, Kilguilkey House was recently awarded the IRD Duhallow Best Agri-Business Award. The venue has benefitted from LEADER funding through IRD Duhallow.

Final results for the CIC classes are available on Eventing Ireland.