Liz Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley at Red Hills 2015. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley SRS won the CCI3* at Ballindenisk in Ireland this weekend, finishing on their dressage score of 44.3. Sam Watson was the only other rider to add no penalties to his initial score in the 32-horse class. He accomplished this on Horseware Bushman, who finished fifth, and he was also fourth with Imperial Sky.
Eight-year-old Cooley SRS is spending is his first season at the three-star level with the very experienced Oliver, who has been partnered with this horse since 2014 when they won the CIC2* at Floors Castle in their first FEI appearance together. This year they won at Burnham Market in February and were fourth in the horse’s first three-star at Alnwick – Burgham. Cooley SRS is a graduate of the upcoming Goresbridge Go for Gold sale.
Brazil’s Ruy Fonseca was riding at Ballindenisk with Tom Bombadill Too in their first event back after winning bronze at the Pan American Games in Toronto. This weekend they finished seventh. Mark Todd and NZB Campino picked up their second CIC3* win of the year, their first at Tatersalls and another at Ballindenisk. They were second after dressage with a 36.6, and added only a rail in show jumping to stay ahead of second place Emily King and Brookleigh.
Clever Oskar is the @ballindenisk CIC1* winner!!! So proud of my talented 6year old!! #superstar #winner pic.twitter.com/vm1AeVTGe5
— Liz Halliday (@lizhalliday) September 26, 2015
America’s own Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp was third in CIC3* with HHS Cooley, who she said on Twitter today “has the biggest heart in the world.” They jumped clear in both phases, adding only time penalties to their initial score of 37.6. Liz also won a big CIC* class with her up and coming 6-year-old Holsteiner Oskar.
