Shock death in Riyadh

TRAGEDY struck during the World Cup Finals in Riyadh on Thursday, when US horse, Chromatic BF collapsed and died in the stable, about an hour after jumping a double clear round.

Jill Humphrey and Chromatic BF had jumped clear to place 12th in Final I on Wednesday and then took third in Thursday’s 1.60m Final II and lay in joint fifth place overall, prior to the final class due to be held on Saturday.

A statement from FEI read: “Chromatic BF had returned to the stables after competition on the evening of April 18th and later unexpectedly collapsed. He was immediately attended to by the US Equestrian veterinary staff and FEI veterinarians, but was unable to be resuscitated. In line with the FEI Veterinary Regulations, samples have already been taken from the horse, and a full postmortem in line with FEI protocols will be conducted.

The horse’s owner and breeder, Katharine Branscomb, stated on social media that no one was at fault.

Irish riders on a roll

KILKENNY’S James Brennan rode the Irish Sport Horse MHS Jersey Girl to win the CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier at Peelbergen in the Netherlands last Friday. From a start list of 31, 13 jumped clear, with Brennan the fastest of those in a super-fast time of 56.08 seconds.

Bred and owned by Sinead Byrne from Co Kilkenny, the mare is by Cardento (HOLST) out of MHS Prime Time (ISH), by Quidam Junior I (KWPN).

Meanwhile in St Tropez, France, Comdt Geoff Curran partnered The Minister For Defence-owned Glengarra Wood (ISH) to a fourth place finish in the two-star Grand Prix on Sunday.

Glengarra Wood is a 14-year-old gelding by Capitalist (HOLST) out of Cavalier Forest (ISH) by Cavalier Clover Lad (ISH) and was bred by Myles Somers from Co Wexford.

Gary Marshalls’s U16 Show jumping Team of James Derwin (Rincoola Babog), Lauren Adams (Slieve Bloom Bella Rose), Charlie Flynn (HK Zena), Annie Boland (K-Little Hero) and Jack Cash (Quina Van’T Gestelhof) finished in third place in Friday’s FEI Youth Nations Cup in Compiegne, France. A report will follow in next week’s edition.

Amateur League

THE Waterford Tipperary 2024 Amateur Show Jumping League kicks off on April 28th at Ballylawn Gymkhana. Mackey Ireland have sponsored a generous prize fund of €700 worth of prizes for each leg. There will be two additions this year - prize placings will be first, second and third for A’s and for AA’s and, in recognition of the different dynamic that jumping on grass brings, Mackeys have put forward a Grass Champion prize for the final. Full details of league format and criteria will be posted on social media. Last year’s league was very well supported with competitors coming from across Munster and Leinster and the committee welcome all who plan to join them again this year.