NEW Zealand’s Caroline Powell, a regular visitor to these shores in various guises, recorded her first international success since September 2018 when landing the NutriScience CCI4*-S at Ballindenisk last weekend on the Irish Sport Horse mare Greenacres Special Cavalier.

Powell and the 10-year-old Cavalier Royale bay, who were third in the 4*-L here in April last year, led after day one of dressage on 32.3 penalties only to be toppled from the top spot during the second session. Then, the ground jury of Ireland’s John Lyttle (C) and Britain’s Anne-Marie Taylor (E) were more impressed by the tests produced by Irish riders Clare Abbott on Jewelent (31.6) and Ian Cassells with Kellys Quality (31.8).

Bred by Michael Callery, Greenacres Special Cavalier is out of the Touchdown mare, Greenacres Touch.

The 18 starters in this class show jumped on Friday evening when Abbott and Powell both went clear but Cassells had a pole down with Kellys Quality. He was also one second over the time on his OBOS Quality 004 gelding who he withdrew before cross-country on a wet and windy Sunday, being voluntarily joined on the sidelines by four other riders of five horses. Forced to sit out the phase following his fall in the CCI4*-L on Saturday was Joseph Murphy who had been well-placed on Barrichello (35.3).

Out of running

Ireland’s Michael O’Toole won the 3*-L here last year on Icco but his bid to complete a double at this higher level on the Dutch Warmblood gelding failed on the final leg when he retired at fence four, the cottages, while compatriot Dominic Furnell made it all the way to fence 17 before calling it a day on Bellscross Guy.

Ireland’s Sarah Ennis recorded the fastest of seven clears on Grantstown Jackson, her 10.8 time penalties propelling the Co Meath rider up the leaderboard from 14th after dressage to third on a total of 52. Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier, who were fifth in the CCI5*-L at Pau last year, picked up 13.6 time penalties on their tour of the cross-country track and their total of 45.9 proved good enough for victory when Abbott and Jewelent amassed 18.8 time penalties for a completion score of 50.4.

Powell enjoyed her trip to Ballindenisk as she also finished third in the CCI3*-L on her second ride, the ISH gelding Legally Grey, an eight-year-old son of Munther bred by Decan Daly out of the Ricardo Z mare, Belle.