Avebury put down

ANDREW Nicholson’s great event horse Avebury was put down on Tuesday. The 16-year-old grey gelding, who is owned by Nicholson with Rosemary and Mark Barlow, was diagnosed with a malignant tumour in his jaw and his condition developed rapidly. With no appropriate treatment available the owners were forced to put the horse to sleep.

Avebury won the Burghley Horse Trials a record three times and they also won the CIC*** at Barbury Castle four times, most recently in 2015. A regular visitor to the Tattersalls Horse Trials, he was the winner of the CCI* in 2007 and the CCI** a year later. Avebury was retired in April of this year after his only run of the season in Great Witchingham, which he won. Since retiring Avebury has been ridden by Nicholson’s children and he has been buried in the garden at Westowood Stud.

Skip Two Ramiro

GUY William’s former Hickstead Derby winning mount Skip Two Ramiro has passed away at the age of 20. The Belgian warmblood won over £400,000 in prize money during his show jumping career and William’s said ‘Skippy’ “made my dreams come true in 2010 when we won the Hickstead Derby”.

Para open day

PARA Equestrian Ireland are holding a development squad open day at Abbotstown tomorrow (Sunday). New riders and sponsors are encouraged to come along to the informative day to learn more about the organisation. There will be riders and para equestrian supporters on hand to answer questions. Further development days take place on Sunday, September 18th and Monday, September 19th at the same Dublin venue. For more information, contact Eilish Byrne on 086-3971617.

Blenheim latest

AOIFE Clark lies best of the Irish after Friday’s dressage phase in the CCI*** at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials. Clark, riding the nine-year-old Wasting Light (ISH), is currently in 14th place after the first day with 46.4 penalties. Young rider Susie Berry is the next best Irish rider in 22nd place riding Carsonstown Athena (ISH) on 47.9 penalties.

James O’Haire is currently in 52nd place with China Doll on 54.3, while Sam Dempsey and Teldon lie in 59th on 55.1 penalties.

Germany’s Bettina Hoy leads after dressage on 32.9 penalties with Siegneur Medicott, ahead of Britain’s Harry Meade and Orlando with 39.6. The highest Irish Sport Horse at this stage is Harbour Pilot (ISH) ridden by American Hannah Sue Burnett with 41.7 penalties.

Clark is out on the cross-country course at 11.28am today (Saturday).