FOREIGN riders filled the first eight places in the Connolly’s Red Mills CCI4*-S at last week’s inaugural Lisgarvan House International with now regular British visitor Kirsty Chabert claiming the honours on Classic VI.

Since May 2022, the Anglo European Studbook-registered mare has made five starts in CCI4*-S classes in Ireland and she has now won three times, filling the runner-up position on the other two occasions. By Calvaro Z, the 14-year-old Classic VI, who has had a foal by embryo transfer (a now two-year-old filly by Fleetwater Opposition), was bred by Peter Charles out of India Summer who jumped up to Grand Prix level.

Co Down’s Clare Abbott led after the dressage phase judged by Andrew Bennie, Faith Ponsonby and Vanda Stewart with Mr Mighty (22.4) but this nine-year-old Gatcombe gelding lost his advantage with a pole down show jumping. The addition of 15.6 time penalties across the country, for a total of 42, saw him slip down the leaderboard to 12th.

It was more or less a similar story for Co Cork’s Sian Coleman and Hush A Bye Baby, who were on 25.5 after the first phase but eventually finished 17th on 45.1. Chabert had been well-placed following the flat work phase on Opposition Loire (25.6), who won at Kilguilkey House in July, but they had problems in both jumping phases and dropped to 28th of the 46 runners.

Chabert completed on her first phase score with Classic VI (26) as did the second-placed pairing of Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci De La Vigne (26.9) while China’s Alex Hua Tian finished third on Poseidons Admiral whose total of 30.1 included 0.8 for time across the country. Britain’s Laura Collett also completed on her dressage score to place fourth on Hester (30.6) but picked up four expensive show jumping penalties with the fifth-placed Calahari (30.8).

“I thought the event was fantastic,” commented Chabert. “The cross-country course was great for the time of year with plenty for the experienced horses to enjoy.”