The second leg of the FEI Nations Cup series wrapped up yesterday at Ballindenisk. Liz Halliday-Sharp had three horses in the CICO3*, and HHS Cooley ended the weekend with the best result, jumping clear with 1.6 time penalties to finish in 7th place on a final score of 50.3. This is the horse that just received the grant to Saumur CCI3* next month, so it’s great to see him in good form as he prepares to head to France.
Her other horses, Red Letter Day and Fernhill By Night, finished 20th and 28th in the CICO3*. Red Letter Day jumped clear on cross country with 5.6 time penalties, and Fernhill By Night had an unfortunately runout — definitely a bummer after his very good dressage score of 44.4 and jumping clear in show jumping. Liz said on her Facebook page that she let Blackie jump in too big to the double tables, and he blew right past the second.
Jules Stiller, the only other American to compete in the Nations Cup class at Ballindenisk, withdrew Charlie Weld after show jumping. But she also had three horses in the CIC2*, finishing in 10th with Cash Advance on 62.2 and 18th and 19th places with Chwupdiwup and Carmina Burana. Liz also had Viscount Oscar in the CIC2*, finishing in 22nd on a final score of 82.4.
In the Nations Cup competition, Great Britain snuck by France to take the win on a final score of 138.4, which combined the best three scores from the team. Izzy Taylor and Allercombe Ellie had the best score as a team rider in the CICO3*, finishing in second place on 41.5 behind runaway winners Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class on 33.6. France’s team finished in second place on a final score of 141.9, and Ireland finished in third place on 155.7.
Mike Ryan was kind enough to send in a helmet cam of his younger brother Hugh Ryan in the CIC* with Garrydruig Cruisader, who finished 17th on a score of 66.5 after a clear cross-country trip with 2.8 time penalties. Many thanks to Mike for sending in the video, which you can view at the top of this post.
