WITH less than one second separating the leaders it was Ireland’s Susie Berry and Amanda Varley’s Wild Atlantic Way who took top honours in the Arena Saddles CCI2*-S at the Thoresby Park Eventing Spring Carnival last Friday. Finishing on their dressage score of 29.1 the duo made it three wins on the bounce. Wild Atlantic Way is an ISH by Puissance out of KMS Clover Crystal (French Buffet), bred by Michael J Kavanagh.

“He was amazing, he’s won three CCI2* classes in a row - Bicton, Lincoln and now here,” Berry said. “He moves up next time, so it was a perfect prep run. He is a real professional and he really wants to win as much as we want to win.

“I thought the course had a really good flow to it, I like it going this direction as we got going a bit more, and the ground was perfect.”

In second was Australian Olympian Kevin McNab riding Sophie Rennison’s Quality Time and rounding out the top three was British rider Lucinda Atkinson and PRF Made In England on their dressage score of 29.9.

Berry also came third in the OI Section L with Ringwood LB (ISH by Iroko x Master Imp, bred by Catriona Mulkere) on 27.7 behind Austin O’Connor and Diamond Mistress (ISH by Diadaro x Master Imp, bred by Kate Jarvey) on 26.4. First here on 24.6 was Piggy March and Cooley Goodwood (ISH by OBOS Quality 004 x Gildawn Diamond, bred by James Coughlan).

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy was another big winner over the weekend taking first, second, fourth and sixth in the OI Section I. His win was aboard his Badminton entry Calmaro (27.3), he was second on Funny Guy (ISH by Loughehoe Guy, bred by Sean Ward), fourth on Barberstown Castle Rehy 31.9 and sixth on Chocolat on 33.2.

Dressage score

Saturday’s CCI4*-S section G was won by world number one Tom McEwen riding JL Dublin who completed within the time to finish on their 24.5 dressage score. McEwen’s win also saw him win the Lycetts Grantham Cup for the best placed British rider and he was also crowned the Lycetts Leading Rider.

Gemma Stevens, seemingly on a hot streak at the Eventing Spring Carnival, produced another flawless performance with the Chilli Morning-sired Jalapeno III, to secure second place. The duo completed on their 24.6 dressage to edge ahead of Laura Collett and Ros Canter.

The best placed Irish riders in this class were Padraig McCarthy in 12th riding Pomp N Circumstance (37.4) and Georgie Goss in 13th on Feloupe (38.7).

In the CCI4*-S section H Laura Collett claimed the top step of the podium with Dacapo completing on a score of 34.1. Gemma Stevens once again took second place in this class, after holding a commanding two-phase lead with Flash Cooley (ISH by CSF Mr Kroon x OBOS Quality 004, bred by Jim O’Neill).

Sunday, the final day of competition, saw reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham ride to a one-two finish in the Rathbones CCI3*-S with Gypsie Du Loir and Kinda Corvette.

The best placed Irish riders here were Elizabeth Power who finished seventh with Dassett Fortune on 33.2 and Sarah Ennis who finished 10th with Dourough Ferro Class Act on 33.7.