Jacky Green is kind enough to keep us up to date on Ballindenisk, and we are most grateful for her reports from across the pond. Jacky works for Team New Zealand and also runs her Maizey Manor Farm in the UK and she is a regular Eventing Nation contributor. Thanks for writing this Jacky and thank you for reading.
This is the corner at 16ab. The short route is straight across the point; long way requires two drops into water. (Photo by Kate Harrington)
Jacky Green
Ballindenisk CIC***/CCI***
Cross country day
It would seem that anyone heading to Ballindenisk for a soft three star early season run would have been much mistaken…..the riders that said the track was up to height and bold and galloping were proved right today as just 13 completed the CCI*** and only 7 of those with zero jump penalties and just Esib Power and September Bliss made time. Even speed demon Mark Kyle and Step in Time picked up 1.2 time which elevated them to 7th despite being hampered by a dressage score of 74.8, just 0.2 inside the qualifying criteria!
At the end of an action-packed day Ollie Townend leads the 3-star with Artic Mouse, a full 7 penalties ahead of Esib Power and September Bliss, with a delighted Tina Cook in 3rd on Miners Frolic which is a great achievement considering “Henry” has not competed since the dressage at Badminton 2011 and fought for his life after that. A small field it might be but still top class, Geoff Curran is in 4th with The Jump Jet but might not be looking forward to the showjumping tomorrow, Blyth Tait is firmly on the comeback trail putting a miserable Burghley behind him with the NZ TB Santos to lie 5th, and Rodney Powell thrilled that Zinzan jumped clear for 6th. Zinzan won Boekelo CCI*** as a nine year old, jumped double clear round his first Badminton the following Spring and then was electrocuted in a freak accident at Martinvaast that summer and has showed disappointing form ever since. Rodney has hunted him all winter with draghounds, the Beaufort, the VWH and it would seem that the old Zinzan is back again, quite the comeback story. Esib Power should also be proud, her Irish team stalwart Kilpatrick River was lying 6th after cross country at Burghley last Autumn and had to be withdrawn following a career ending injury but she took her only other advanced horse to Boekelo after a 2-year absence from 3-days, finished in the top 10 and has put herself right up the list today with the only round inside the time. September Bliss raced in Ireland under trainer Jessie Harrington whose stable jockey is Grand National winner Robert Power……who is Esib’s brother!
Jules Stiller described the CCI*** as “carnage” and was happy she made the right decision to leave Enjoy Me in his stable. Axel Rose was going brilliantly until fence 16, a 90 degree corner with water underneath it which she said he totally misread and ran off so she retired him, she was delighted however with Chapel Ambel who finished 3rd in the CIC*** behind Portersize Just a Jiff (Camilla Spiers) and the veteran Old Road for Michael Ryan. Jules is pretty sure she has her Badminton qualification and said the weekend had been quite an experience with a car crossing her path cross country which nearly took her and her horse out amongst other things and is thrilled with her partnership with the smart mare Chapel Ambel.
Camilla Spiers and the hugely popular Portersize Just a Jiff more than made up for being barely 15 hands with a pillar to post victory in the CIC***. The duo have been hugely influential in gaining much needed points for Ireland with good runs at the Europeans, Boekelo, and now Ballindenisk. Old Road must have been round Ballindenisk countless times with Michael Ryan and he showed all his experience today with a classy 2nd and Jayne Doherty finished 5th with Ravenstar whilst her European ride The Only One had an uncharacteristic off day with 60 jumping penalties.
Whilst the CIC*** is over the jog and the showjumping remain for the CCI*** tomorrow. In true Irish fashion a group of riders went off to the local river at the end of the day, riding bareback to make the most of the water cooling properties! Now that is something you don’t see at most European 3-days!
[Results]
