Gillian Beale King and Chance Encounter. Photo by Bit-Media.
Among several marquee events this weekend is Millstreet Horse Trials in County Cork, Ireland, where dressage has wrapped and jumping phases are now underway. The U.S. counts two of its countrymen among the competitors: Gillian Beale King, who has four rides in the CCI4*-S, and Avery Klunick, who is contesting the CCI3*-S.
Gillian has stormed the Irish eventing scene since moving abroad in 2021, when she seized an opportunity to ride for the Belline Estate, owned by Richard and Tanja Ames in Kilkenny. EN caught up with her that fall (you can read our profile here) following a hot streak of wins that summer. First there was her CCI2*-L hat trick at Kilguilkey, finishing first with Derena Super Star, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Womanizer – Miss Dallas); second with Ballyvillane Obos, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Obos Quality x Gleesons Coolcorran); and third with Chance Encounter, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Creevagh Grey Rebel x Camedia). Yet another horse, Rebeliant, an 11-year-old Polish gelding (Carry Son x Ratafia), finished 8th. And, on the very same weekend, she took the CCI2*-S win with RCA Royal Summer, a 9-year-old British Sport Horse gelding by Royaldik out of Summers Mist. A month later, she bested the 2021 CCI3*-S at Millstreet with Chance Encounter.
Gillian’s string has been gaining momentum in the year since, with successful outings at the three-star level. Derena Super Star and Rebeliant moved up to the four-star level at Kilguilkey last month, jumping clear cross country with time and collecting one rail apiece in show jumping. This week she is circling back to Millstreet to contest the CCI4*-S with four horses, who are placed as follows after dressage: 14th – RCA Royal Summer (34.3), 18th – Chance Encounter (36.1), 20th – Rebeliant (36.7), 31st – Derena Super Star (39.2). She and Ballyvillane Obos are sixth in the CCI3*-L (34.1). Busy gal!
We’ll be following along closely. Do also check out Gillian’s guest appearance on the Equiratings Eventing Podcast Millstreet Preview episode here.
Avery Klunick and Pisco Sour. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Another American to cheer on: Avery Klunick, who is contesting the CCI3*-S with Pisco Sour, an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Metropole x Heathlawn Cailin, by Clover Park). They sit 51st after dressage on a 39.4.
The former Area V young rider, who made her five-star debut at Kentucky in 2016 with her memorable late partner In It To Win It, moved to the UK in 2021 with her young up-and-comer Pisco Sour to base with Australian riders Emma and Kevin McNab. The pair jumped around the Millstreet CCI3*-L last year and went on to the Young Horse championships at Le Lion d’Angers — they’ve posted clear-with-time cross country rounds in their past four three-star starts. We wish them the best of luck in their return to Millstreet!
Millstreet International H.T. (Cork, Ireland): [Website] [Timing & Scoring]
CCI4*-L Dressage Results:
CCI4*-S Top 10 After Dressage:
CCI3*-L Top 10 After Dressage:
CCI3*-S Top 10 After Dressage:
