COUNTY Derry’s Daniel Coyle was triumphant in the $150,000 Mad Barn Big Ben International Challenge with his longstanding equine partner, Legacy, last Thursday evening (November 9th) at the four-star Royal Horse Show in Toronto, Canada.

There were 22 starters in the first round, seven of whom jumped clear to make it through to the jump-off. Kent Farrington (USA) jumped a great clear round in a fast time of 36.75 and it looked like he might have done enough to secure the win, until it was Coyle and Legacy’s turn. The pair took risks, but luck was on their side and they kept all the poles intact in a time of 35.72 seconds, which was unbeatable.

Farrington had to be happy with second place on this occasion, with Switzerland’s Beat Mändli making up the top three; he rode Dsarie and was the fastest four-faulter in the jump-off in 37.03 seconds.

Coyle went on to ride Quintin into ninth place in the $80,000 Canadian Open International Speed Challenge on Friday, November 10th, in a class won by Kent Farrington (USA) on Creedance.

Last year, Coyle and Legacy won the $250,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Toronto, which meant a lot as Legacy’s owner Ariel Grange of Lothlorien Farm is a native of Toronto. They were hoping to repeat this success again this year.

“When we won the World Cup here last year, it felt like the biggest thing I ever did because this is Ariel’s local show,” said Coyle, who is ranked 12 on the Longines World Rider Rankings. “Any win here is brilliant, but last year to win the World Cup was unbelievable. Now to win the Big Ben Challenge as well is amazing. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do the same on Saturday.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be this time around and the pair placed ninth. The class was won by Israel’s Daniel Bluman and Gemma W.

Irish-bred winner

Irish-bred horses once again made their presence felt, as GCS Athena (ISH), bred by Olivia Brennan in Kilkenny and ridden by Canada’s Amy Millar, won the $38,500 Brickenden Trophy at the World Cup Show last Thursday night. This nine-year-old mare was previously ridden by Ireland’s Mikey Pender.

Only six combinations progressed into the jump-off and Millar, who was on the silver medal winning team at the recent 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and is also a Canadian Olympian, skilfully rode GCS Athena to win the class in a time of 39.63 seconds.

“Athena is so talented,” Millar said of her mount, owned by Brookstreet Stables Corporation. “I’ve been riding her for two years, and just to see her progression and how she’s really grown into an unbelievable jumper makes me very proud. One of my favourite things about her is how fast she is. She’s scopey, she’s careful, and all of those are prerequisites to even get in that ring, but on top of that she’s naturally really fast and agile, so you’re along for the ride.”

Amy Millar went on to be named leading lady rider.