BRITISH rider Willa Newton is no stranger to the Ballindenisk podium, but much to her delight this was her first international victory aboard the Sandpiper Syndicate’s exciting nine-year-old Last Hope 10.

One of the ante post favourites, and well-placed in a strong class at Thoresby Park two weeks earlier, the Leicestershire-based duo were on invincible form to turn the tables on dressage leaders Daya Singh Hujan and Icarus HK. Both riders delivered clean jumping rounds, but having been quicker across the country, it was Newton who gained the advantage overnight.

“I just love it here,” she said afterwards. “Having entered, I was so nervous it was going to be cancelled or that the ground would be very wet, but as things turned out, it’s been perfect.”

The past few years have been tough for Newton, who having missed an entire season through injury, has been playing catch up with this Holstein-bred gelding, whom she sourced from Dirk Schrade in Germany five years ago. A light mileage nine-year-old, he is according to Newton a very exciting prospect.

“He’s come of age this season,” she commented. “He has been quite a sharp horse, so we’ve not been in a rush. He was brilliant across the country here, really galloped and finished well. I thought we were inside the time, but luckily it didn’t matter. He feels very established now, and the Blenheim eight and nine-year-old championship is the end of season aim.”

Pragmatic about relinquishing the top spot, Oxfordshire-based newcomer Daya Singh Hujan was delighted with his first trip to Ballindenisk. His grey Icarus, is one of two advanced horses he campaigns and, sourced from Vere Phillips as a six-year-old, has been pencilled in for a four-star long run for the end of the year. Singh Hujan may be a new name to eventing in Ireland, but he has a solid grounding in the sport.

Having spent five years in Germany, under the mentorship of veteran rider and scout Peter Thomsen, he rose through the German eventing ranks to compete to CCI3* level. Now back settled in the UK, the 24-year-old is actively seeking his Indian passport, which he hopes will give him more international opportunities.

Top Irish rider

Very ably representing the home side, Padraig McCarthy pulled up four places to fill third with the nine-year-old MGH Mr Messack. Although the duo was a little off the pace on the flat, they produced the sole clean sheet of the class, completing on their dressage score of 37.1.

Traditionally bred, MGH Mr Messack is owned by Christopher and Sarita Perkins, former owners of McCarthy’s world championship medallist Mr Chunky. Sourced largely due to his similarity to the latter, the Michael Doyle-bred son of Pointilliste (dam by Diamond Serpent) was bought from Steven and Trevor Smith four years ago. “On the back of this run, we’ll move up to four-star at the end of the year,” commented McCarthy. “The going here was great, as was the track, which was a real cross-country test - we miss these natural features in the UK.”

The British combination of Andrew James and Lochan D Van Altrido picked up the only penalty in the country. The pair were enjoying a trouble-free round, but unfortunately glanced past the first element of the Defender Barrels (16) and having continued without re-presenting, were eliminated.