Aoife Clark with Vaguely North and Michael Ryan on the Irish Sport horse Ballylynch Adventure have both finished in the top ten at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials in England.
In an impressive result for Irish three-day eventing, Dublin-born Clark, who was lying in 11th place after the dressage and cross-country phase, had just one fence down to lift her into eighth overall, and Bandon-based Ryan delivered a perfect clear round to hoist him up from overnight 21st to ninth at the end of the day.
A deceptively difficult show jumping course saw many international favourites drop down the rankings as poles fell, and the Irish duo benefited by holding their nerve during the final phase.
Irish breeding was also well represented at Badminton, with three Irish Sport Horses finishing in the top ten.
One Two Many, ridden by Britain’s Nicola Wilson, finished in seventh place, Ryan’s Ballylynch Adventure - owned by Carol and Tom Henry and Sheila Foley - finished in eighth, while last year’s Badminton Winner, Paulank Brockagh, ridden by Australia’s Sam Griffiths, was tenth.
This year's victor was William Fox-Pitt with Chilli Morning, the first British winner at Badminton since Oliver Townend took the trophy in 2009 with Flint Curtis.
