IRISH event rider Fred Scala won the competitive Symonds & Sampson CCI2*-S at Bicton International on his 11-year-old 15.2hh mare Rouge Angel (aka Corriebeg Supernova) with no faults to add to his dressage score of 30.1.

Scala also claimed fourth place in the CCI3*L with Everon Vivendi.

Speaking after the win, Scala said: “It’s fantastic, it’s a brilliant way to finish the season. I’ve not run the horse very much this year; she has had probably two eventing runs, this is her third.

“I took her to Hickstead this year and she won the eventers challenge so we’ve had a really successful year with her, she has been fantastic. She’s only 15.2, she’s a very sharp little mare. We nearly didn’t bring her because she hurt her neck cross-country schooling three weeks ago, so we’ve had a very, very tentative preparation for this event and managed to just get it right on the day.

“She’s always a very good jumper and she’s very fast, so I was pretty confident in my jumping phases, so to get a decent test out of her, I’m delighted. We’ve been waiting for that part of the puzzle to slot into place, so hopefully now we can continue some really competitive form with her next year, get some owners in and start to expand the string a bit.” In a post on Facebook, Scala also expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported him this season.

“It has been a quiet year due to personal reasons with its fair share of difficult times,” he posted. “Without the support of some very special individuals absolutely nothing would have been possible. So thank you, you know who you are.

“With only 10 eventing starts this season, I have finished in the top 10 eight times, with all three of my top horses finishing in the money at International competitions, I have some very exciting young horses to bring out next year and I am always looking to welcome new investors/owners into the team.”