THE England-based New Zealander Sam Lissington first attended the Millstreet international horse trials in 2022 when, from four rides, she recorded a best-placed finish of second in the CCI3*-L, where she also finished fifth.

Last year, when she also had four rides, Lissington recorded two wins at 2* level, a feat she repeated last week when her young horse class victor of 2023, the Dutch Warmblood gelding Mr Cookie Time, led from start to finish in the Donagh Hickey Motors CCI2*-L.

Lissington owns the seven-year-old Casago bay, in partnership with Neil Robertston, who attended the Co Cork event, and the absent Rachel Bessell. The travelling support group also included Kate Maitland, whose Delardo finished 11th in the CCI3*-S.

Having been lying joint-second after dressage on Cock A Doodle Doo (27.8), a first visit to Millstreet by the USA’s Mya Poulas then didn’t go to plan, as the combination picked up 38.4 penalties on the cross-country phase and withdrew before the horse inspection. Poulas also withdrew the Irish Sport Horse gelding Creevagh Mohill from the CCI2*-S.

Britain’s Flora Harris had two rides in this long format class and, following the flat work phase, was better-placed in joint-second on Milka Way (27.8), while lying ninth with Rochefort van de Vossenhoek (31.4), on whom she won the CCI1*-Intro last year. That seven-year-old Diamant de Semilly gelding was eliminated across the country while, with a fence down show jumping, Harris dropped to seventh on the final leaderboard with Milka Way (31.8).

As some go down, others go in the opposite direction, every move of Britain’s Nicky Roncoroni on Rockalong being mirrored by Ireland’s Ian Cassells on Inquisitor. The pair completed on their joint-fourth placed dressage scores (29.4), with Co Kilkenny-based Roncoroni getting the nod on Rockalong, her seven-year-old ISH gelding by Imperial Hights. Cassells had to settle for third with the traditional ISH gelding Inquisitor, a seven-year-old son of Coroner, who was bred by his owner Bridget McGing, a long-standing supporter of the south Co Dublin rider.

One combination was eliminated in the show jumping phase. In addition to those already mentioned, there was one withdrawal before the horse inspection and one elimination across the country, where there was one retirement.