BRITAIN’S Sam Ecroyd was the man of the moment across the two three-stars at Millstreet International, winning the Eventing Ireland CCI3*-S on Stewart and Vicky Irlam’s Chapel House (Sibon W), an Irish Sport Horse bred by John O’Sullivan, and the CCI3*-L on another Irish Sport Horse, Bloomfield Manuscript (Financial Reward).

His win in the long format class made him the leader of a British one-two-three-four. Fellow countryman Tom Grant was the runner-up on the ISH Tommy Cruise (Lock Cruise), Ecroyd’s partner Emily King was third on Maserati de Landetta Z and Ecroyd himself was fourth with another ISH, Boleybawn Lecrae (Boleybawn Ectasy).

Leading the CCI3*-L from the outset on Bloomfield Manuscript with a dressage score of 27.9, Ecroyd did not have a show jumping fence in hand over Emily, who at that point sat second on Sunny Side Up, but ended up withdrawing. Ecroyd did have a four-penalty advantage over British rider Tom Grant (Tommy Cruise), who rose from 11th after dressage to third after cross-country, as one of only four who went clear within the time allowed. Both men finished on totals of 31.9 when Ecroyd had one fence down, but his faster time across the country secured pole position.

Heading into that influential show jumping phase, King was lying fourth on Maserati de Landetta Z and Ecroyd fifth on Boleybawn Lecrae, but the withdrawal of Sunny Side up saw both partnerships edge up one spot apiece.

Sarah Ennis was best of the home side, finishing in fifth place on Deirdre Connolly’s Onceuponatime, who was seventh after dressage on 31.1, but jumped into sixth after adding just 4.8 for time across the country. With just one down in the show jumping, Ennis claimed fifth on a total of 39.9.

Clearly delighted with the mare, Ennis commented: “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, What A Mare! This mare is super-consistent each day out and gets better and better with each run, looking forward to what see what the future holds. Watch this space for this very exciting mare.”

The next best placed Irish rider was Godfrey Gibbons, who finished seventh on Milchem Miami (ISH). Fifteenth after dressage on 33.1, Gibbons soared up into eighth after the cross-country, when adding just 8.8 for time and, with just one down in the show jumping, crept up one more place.

As a result of being the highest placed young rider at the event, Gibbons has won an exchange to The Maryland International and Horse Trials in July.

Other Irish combinations in the top 10 were Keeva Johnson, who finished eighth on Cornasaus Lad and Tara Dixon and the ISH Global Narco (OBOS Quality 004), who finished ninth. Johnson climbed from 17th after dressage thanks to a clean cross-country with just 10.4 for time and Dixon climbed from 22nd after dressage after going clear in both jumping phases, with just 14.4 added for time.

CCI3*-S

Ecroyd, who only incurred 0.4 of a time penalty in his three cross-country rounds, praised the Millstreet team led by course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith. “The course rode the best it could, considering the recent wet weather; the distances and fences had all been well adjusted to the conditions and it created good pictures,” he said.

In the CCI3*-S, his win with Chapel House came thanks to a dressage score of 29.2 that saw them in third before two clears in the jumping phases, with only 0.4 added across the country.

In second place was New Zealand rider Clarke Johnstone and the Thoroughbred Aces High. This pair were in second after dressage on 27.3, but 7.2 cross-country time penalties gave Ecroyd the advantage.

Britain’s Alfie Bradstock and Something Extra were third, after making the huge climb from 22nd after dressage thanks to clear jumping phases and a quicker-than-most time across the country with just four penalities to add. Kevin McNab and Wilfred Lancer were fourth and nipping at his heels were a foursome of Irish riders, who claimed fifth to eighth.

The best of these was Edie Murray-Hayden riding Sandyhill Ceol (ISH by Galoon Ceol) into fifth after adding just six time penalites to her dressage score of 31.5.

In sixth was the on-form Momo Sheehy riding TMX Herby, in seventh was Suzanne Hagan and Loughview Commander (ISH by Cobra) and in eighth was Godfrey Gibbons riding Milchem Free Spirit (ISH by Contra A).

TOP ISH BREEDING

4*-S individuals

KELLYS QUALITY (ISH) – 2013 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Kellys Leader (TB) by Supreme Leader (TB). Breeder: Francis Kelly (Roscommon). Rider: Ian Cassells (IRL)

MILLRIDGE ATHOS (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Grand Gayle (TB) out of Out of Touch Blue Moon (ISH) by Blue Moon (ISH). Breeder: Kieran Savage. Rider: Ian Cassells (IRL)

4*-S NC team

ALTITU (ISH) – 2015 gelding by Orestus VDL (KWPN) out of Happy Choice by Aram (KWPN). Breeder: Seamus Carew. Owner: Seamus Carew. Rider: Patrick Whelan (IRL)

MILLRIDGE ATLANTIS (ISH) – 2014 gelding by Dinan Cascaletto (ISH) out of Kereen Sue (ISH) by Warrenstown You 2 (ISH). Breeder: Sean O’Loughlin, Co Kilkenny. Owner: Fiona Leahy and Gerry Leahy. Rider: Ian Cassells (IRL)

BALLYVILLANE OBOS (ISH) – 2013 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Gleesons Coolcorran (ISH) by Young Convinced (TB). Breeder: Tim Gleeson. Owner: Richard Ames. Rider: Robbie Kearns (IRL)

4*-L

BALLYNEETY ROCKETMAN (ISH) [TIH] – 2014 gelding by Diamond Discovery (TB) out of Ballyneety Macrocket (ISH) by Errigal Flight (ISH). Breeder: James Hickey. Owner: Hannah & Sam Watson. Rider: Sam Watson (IRL)

3*-L

BLOOMFIELD MANUSCRIPT (ISH) – 2015 gelding by Financial Reward (TB) out of Bloomfield Lucy Locket (ISH) by Olympic Lux (KWPN). Breeder: Daphne Tierney (Wicklow). Rider: Sam Ecroyd (GBR)

TOMMY CRUISE (ISH) – 2014 stallion by Loch Cruise (ISH) out of Glandoran Hope (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeder: George Chapman. Rider: Tom Grant (GBR)

BOLEYBAWN LECRAE (ISH) – 2015 gelding by Boleybawn Ectasy (ISH) out of Boleybawn Luxella (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeder: Boleybawn Horses Limited. Rider: Sam Ecroyd (GBR)

ONCEUPONATIME (ISH) – 2016 mare by Barely a Moment (TB) out of Monicas Dream (ISH) by Maltstriker (KWPN). Breeder/Owner: Deirdre Connolly. Rider: Sarah Ennis (GBR)

3*-S

CHAPEL HOUSE (ISH) [was Dicksgrove Heartbeat] – 2014 gelding by Sibon W (KWPN) out of Dicksgrove Coleen (ISH). Breeder: John O’Sullivan (Kerry). Rider: Sam Ecroyd (GBR)