A BRILLIANT closing round on the final day of Badminton Horse Trials has given Ireland’s Austin O’Connor and the Irish-bred gelding Colorado Blue an excellent eighth place finish.

O’Connor, who finished 13th at the Tokyo Olympic Games with the Salty Syndicate-owned Colorado Blue, bred by Kate Jarvey, Mellon Stud, Co Limerick, was in 58th place after the opening dressage phase.

A perfect clear inside the time in Saturday’s cross-country, followed by another clear show jumping round with just 0.4 time penalties in the final phase, saw O’Connor and Colorado Blue (ISH) climb the leaderboard and finish on a final score of 36.3.

Susie Berry was the next-best Irish finisher in 17th place with John The Bull (ISH), while Padraig McCarthy took 33rd position with HHS Noble Call and finished 41st with Fallulah.

Irish-bred horses shine

It was an impressive showing overall from Irish Sport Horses who filled three of the top five places. Swallow Springs (ISH) took third place on the podium with Oliver Townend (GBR), Vanir Kamira (ISH) and Piggy March (GBR) finished fourth while Ballaghmor Class (ISH) finished fifth - again ridden by Oliver Townend. There was also a top 10 finish for Alfies Clover (ISH) with Richard Jones (GBR).

Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52 are the 2022 Badminton champions. An outstanding performance saw them add just 0.4 time penalties to their dressage score of 21.0 to claim the title, while Rosalind Canter (GBR) finished as runner-up with Lordships Graffalo on 26.0.

Badminton - top 10 Irish-breds

3rd – Swallow Springs [ISH] – 2008 gelding by Chillout (ISH) out of Kilila (ISH)[TIH] by Cult Hero (TB). Breeder: Maria Keating (Galway)

4th – Vanir Kamira (ISH) – 2005 mare by Camiro De Haar Z (ZANG) out of Fair Caledonian (WNTR) by Dixi (TB). Breeder: Kathryn Jackson (Monaghan).

5th – Ballaghmor Class (ISH) – 2007 gelding Courage II (HOLST) out of Kilderry Place (ISH). Breeder: Noel Hickey (Limerick).

8th – Colorado Blue (SHBGB) 2009 gelding by Jaguar Mail (SF) out of Rock Me Baby (AES), by Rock King (WNTR). Breeder: Mellon Stud / Kate Jarvey, Limerick

10th Alfies Clover (ISH) – 2007 gelding by Tajraasi (TB) out of Aoifes Clover (P)(ISH)[TIH] by Clover Hill (ID). Breeder: James Hickey, Co. Waterford.