MEATH’s Sarah Ennis rode five horses at Ballindenisk last weekend, all of whom were placed, and her visit to Co Cork was crowned when Horseware Stellor Rebound brought up an autumn double in the CCI4*-S.

Having recorded a double clear inside the time back in August, the 16-year-old VDL Ricochet gelding picked up 1.2 time penalties across the country on Sunday but, on a total of 28.6, still recorded an all-the-way victory which saw the bay win by a seven-point margin.

Only two of the 20 starters completed on the scores they were awarded in the dressage arena by Joanne Jarden (IRL) at C and Weibke Hennig (GER) at B and they finished second and third.

The very busy Cathal Daniels filled the runner-up spot with Jo Breheny’s home-bred 10-year-old Limmerick mare LEB Lias Jewel (35.6), while Louise Bloomer, who had three rides at the fixture, was a place adrift on Hollybrook High In The Sky (37).

That Puissance gelding was one of two 18-year-olds in the class, the other being Ballindenisk regular Magennis, another by Limmerick, who, with a pole down, finished sixth (40.6) under Jim Newsam.

Of those who didn’t complete, Steven Smith withdrew EMS Florence after dressage, while Alison Holden also decided to draw stumps following a disappointing show jumping round with O My Balladeer.

Uninjured

Thankfully both Tegan White-McMorrow and her beloved Texan Style were uninjured in a cross-country fall, whereas three combinations accrued 20 jumping penalties on the final leg.

“Rocket is in great form and came out of Ballindenisk really well,” said Ennis of Horseware Stellor Rebound with whom she was part of Ireland’s silver medal-winning team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon.

“He’s finished now for the season and all we can do is think about, not necessarily plan for, next year. We are very lucky that we have been able to compete at these home internationals and, when you are dealing with horses, you never know what’s going to happen.

“I was really pleased with my other horses as well. Horseware Woodcourt Garrison got his flying changes in the four-star long-format class – although the German judge wasn’t too impressed with him – and, with his double clear, he did well to finish second.

“Grantstown Jackson finishing fourth in the CCI3*-L made up for last year when I left out a show jump! He was really good in all three phases and I’m looking forward to moving up to four-star next year. We’ll work on the flying changes over the winter.

“My other two rides were in the Michael Leonard where I had a pole down with both. KSH Touch Of Quality, who finished fourth, is a six-year-old but he only started eventing this season and so lacks mileage.

“He dropped his hind legs on the vertical at nine but that was just through greenness – we can work on that.

“He’ll do Frankfort Stud (tomorrow) and Punchestown (next weekend) as will Action Lady M who finished fifth. Being by Plot Blue, she was bred in the purple by Susanne Macken. She won an EI90 at Grove last year and, having been out on grass all over the Covid lockdown period, was having just her third start this at Ballindenisk.

“She only had a pole down as she was looking at a horse landing on the cross-country. She is on the market.”

As Ennis competed at both autumn internationals at Ballindenisk, it was interesting to hear her say that the new sand arena rode much better on this occasion.