THE Connolly’s Red Mills CCI4*S was a hotly contested class with just under 50 combinations entered. After a day of dressage in front of ground jury members Pollyann Huntingdon and Marie Hennessy, the only combination to get a sub-30 mark were SBH Big Wall (Puissance x Courage) and Izzy Taylor on 26.9.

The nine-year-old Puissance gelding added just 0.4 penalty in the show jumping phase to win the class. SBH Big Wall is a promising young horse who has finished in the top six at Le Lion d’Angers as a six and seven-year-old and finished fifth in Bramham CCI4*S earlier this year. It was great to see breeder John Murphy on the podium accepting the prize on behalf of Taylor and SBH Big Wall during the presentations.

Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 A Best Friend have good form on Irish soil (they were second in Millstreet earlier this year) and this trip proved no different with their second place finish behind Taylor. Finishing on their dressage score of 31.5 put them just ahead of Robbie Kearns and Chance Encounter VII on 31.9. This combination are aiming at the CCI5*L in Pau at the end of the season.

Though 33 combinations had clear jumping rounds over the cross-country track designed by Paul and Allen Brady with Mike Etherington Smith, only eight managed to make it inside the time allowed of six minutes and 34 seconds.

One of those who climbed the leaderboard as a result of their quick round was Heather O’Connor and HSH Has it All who jumped from 40th after the show jumping phase to finish just inside the top 20 in 18th place. Burghley-bound combination Grantstown Jackson and Sarah Ennis had a steady run around as they prepared for their third five star appearance in a few weeks time. It was also great to see Jennifer Kuehnle and her two top 10 Luhmuhlen five-star horses Sammy Davis Junior and Polly Blue Eyes back out as they prepare for an autumn CCI5*L.