Well the Fell family certainly excelled themselves this time!!
The placed looked amazing and the course could not have been better.
There was a star studded field of competitors and I am sure they were not disappointed with the event and facilities in Ballendenisk.
William Fox-Pitt, Zara Phillips, Gary Parsonage, Matthew Wright and Karin Donkers were amongst the overseas riders who chose to make the long trip over.
The Michael Leonard Memorial 5/6 year old championships were incorporated into the weekend which gave this class a real Championship feel and a great chance for these young horses to have a taste of an international atmosphere. It was our own Fernhill Ultimate that took the spoils in this class leading from the start with his stunning dressage test. He is a class act and just gets better with each outing. Infact three Fernhill residents were in the top placings with Deidre Lannigans Sea Top Boy just been pushed into third place by Louise Codd on the consistant Ballycree Milord. This was a great result for Deidre’s talented young horse who is really maturing now. Spirit In The Sky came in fourth and as we recently purchased him from Michael Leonards daughter Mary this was especially fitting.
Archive for the ‘Event News’ Category
Ballendenisk International
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011The Good Witch
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010Congratulations to Jennifer Wooten and the Good Witch on winning the Gold Cup at the USEA eventing Championships.
WEG
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010We are all excited with the news that Fernhill Gloster Rebel is set to make his Championship debut with Duarte later this month in Kentucky. Although he is only 9 years old, Duarte feels he is ready to tackle this challenge and his recent runs in Hartpury and Highclere have confirmed this.
Rebs is entered for Blenheim this week in the CIC 8 and 9 year old class but will probably only do the dressage and part of he cross country as a warm up for WEG.
Carol heads over to England to meet Duarte and discuss his final preparations. As Duarte has been based in England this season Rebs has not been seen on the Irish circuit so we all look forward to photo and video of him from his recent events and his Championship debut.
His ex stable mate Fernhill Clover Mist also travels for Ireland to Kentucky with Experienced championship rider Trish Donegan. We wish then all the very best of luck.
Its great to see two horses with pure Irish bloodlines flying the Fernhill flag and competing at the very top of the sport.
Exciting times!!!
Glandoran
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010As the rain came down for the first time in weeks we headed off to County Wexford to the home of The Chapman family to Glandoran just outside Gorey.
Fun and games with the truck on the way resulted in our horses arriving in dribs and drabs and been spread about the truck park in various trucks and trailers but in true Fernhill Fashion “The show must go on”!!! So our days sport tho delayed a little commenced!!
Sophie made her debut with new ride Scottie Ducati who was previously campaigned in England by Austin Oconnor. She posted a super double clear in the CNC 2 star class however the mornings rain and consequent slippery going resulted in a number of time penalties in both the show jumping and the xc. We were delighted with the performance and this combination look to be an exciting match for Ballendenisk International in a couple of weeks.
Kellie Hutchinson had her second outing with our good pony Rathball Prince and we were all delighted when she won the class with a double clear. She has taken no time to form a great partnership with Prince they looked like they had been together all season!! Well done Kellie keep up the good work.
Deidre Lannigan’s Sea Top Boy was on form again and another 2nd in the 4 and 5 year old class made his owner very happy.
Carol Rode her new baby Fernhill Tosca, a very exciting prospect by Shannondale Sarco out of a clover hill mare. He was a star in all phases and finished in 2nd place.
As usual The Chapman family had the kettle boiling at the end of a very wet soggy day and tea and cake in the hospitality tent was very welcome by all who were brave enough to stay to the bitter end for the prizes!!
Camphire International
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Camphire held its first international event last weekend. The beautiful setting on the banks of the Blackwater is an ideal venue for such an event and with the backdrop of Camphire house it really is a stunning setting.
We were blessed with the weather and had glorious sunshine all weekend.
Friday saw a full day of dressage, Fernhill M2S did his test in the two star arena and tho his score of 60 penalties might not sound great he performed as well as he could at this stage and was much more grown up than on previous outings. A few green moments prevented a better mark but he is improving all the time and we were happy.
Mr Jones was early in the one star arena and on hindsight we probably did not work him enough before his test. we did not take into account the atmosphere here compared to the one days he had attended to date. He was still stunning and scored 48 penalties but could quite easily have been 5 marks better. He is new to the eventing game and we will know for next time.
We stabled with the Beechers in Tallow just a couple of miles down the road, they had the place looking spick and span and a great welcome awaited us from Timmy Paul and Tadgh as usual. Its always a pleasure to stay at Loughnatousa, the facilities are second to none.
Timmy kept us entertained with his stories over dinner in the Bride View Bar and a great evening was had by all.
Another day of dressage on Saturday saw good scores posted by Fernhill Go-Go on his international debut and Xifon both in the one star.
The Horseware League Final for 4 and 5 year olds took place on Saturday and we had Deidre Lannigans Sea Top Boy qualified. He did a respectable dressage and jumped clear both show jumping and xc to finish 7th. Thanks to Tom Mcguniess of Horseware for creating this series its a great chance to see the top up and coming young horses perform.
We were all invited to drinks and canapes in Camphire house on the Saturday evening and it was a great opportunity to catch up with friends old and new from the eventing world.
Sundays cross country started with the Two star competitors and we were delighted when Fernhill M2S jumped around clear with just a handful of time penalties. The course caused its fair share of problems with some of the more experienced combinations having the odd glance off.
All three of our one star horses stormed around the cross country clear with only Xifon getting a quarter of a time penalty. `this left them all in the top 15 in this section going into the show jumping phase in the afternoon. Again they all jumped super clear rounds. Mr Jones finished in 3rd place tho he head the dame score as the 2nd placed competitor he was slightly faster xc, Go-Go was 4th and Xifon 12th. We were delighted with these results and all horses finished sound and happy.
M2S jumped a lovely clear in the two star show jumping and finished 14th.
All in all a very good weekend, all credit to Sophie for doing such a fantastic job with all the horses, five horses and five double clears, it does not get better than that!!!!
Tattersalls One Day Event
Thursday, August 26th, 2010Another early start for Team Fernhill as we head up to Meath for Tatts one day event.
This was an opportunity to have a final tune up before the International in Camphire next week so poor Mr Jones who has been on the truck more than in his stable lately headed up. At 8 and just begining his eventing career he has had some catching up to do!!
Luca partenered a new ride for him Fernhill Ok and Sophie also had Deidre Lannigan’s Sea Top Boy on board as well as her Le Lion prospect Fernhill M2S.
All horses performed well, M2S was still green in the 2 star test but is getting there, he jumped amazing as usual and posted another double clear, he is now a very consistent horse at this level and goes to Camphire in the CIC 2 star.
Mr Jones did his usual stunning dressage to lead the section but a first show jump down of the season saw his lead slip. However he was very grown up xc and posted one of the fastest times of the day to finish 3rd. He also now heads to Camphire for the 1 star CIC.
The baby of the pack Sea Top Boy at only five was the star of the day, he finished 2nd in a very competitive Pre-Novice section with some much older and more experienced horses. Owner Deidre Lannigan was delighted and now looks forward to seeing him in the Horseware 4 and 5 year old championships next weekend in Camphire.
luca rode his new mount tactfully and fared well in all phases to finish two places behind Sea Top in 4th.
Two ponies from the Fernhill team were in the Pony 2 star section Joshua Pimm rode Rylane Lady finishing 6th and Kellie Hutchinson made her debut on Rathball Prince and performed very well to finish 8th. Josh won the section with his other pony Mr Otto after a super dressage test and jumping a double clear round. Lady now heads to Camphire but as Kellie has only just taken over the ride on Prince she needs another 2 star before being allowed in an International competition.
Our day ended as usual with Deidre’s famous picnic, with cakes supplied this week by Jane Lannigan we all sat enjoying the Meath sunshine ate, drank and reflected on the day, remarking how lucky we are to have such super horses, great friends and be able to enjoy our sport.
Future Event Horse Finals
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010Premier Clover Royale and Ardeeven Royal were loaded up into the truck and we set off to contest the final of the FEHL. Both horses have been on the easy list since Dublin as we felt they were mentaly exhausted afterwards. Its a big ask for a young horse in the main arena in the RDS and I think the horses need time to chill after.
It was a beautiful sunny day for the final and as always Tattersalls looked stunning.
The course was as usual strong but I felt slightly fairer than other years.
Clover was stunning in all phases and finished 5th. He really does look set to have a serious future ahead.
Digby (Ardeeven Royal) performed impecably and WON the 5 year old championships!!! We were delighted with this result as he only joined us in july and had previously only show jumped. 
He is a big raw horse and still weak but has all the qualities needed to make it to the top. We are very excited about his future!!
Ballyvannon
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010A very early start on Saturday (3am) took us up the North to a new event on the calender, Ballyvannon.
It was a long drive up but an amazing Sunrise and quite roads made it a pleasant trip.
The owners of this new event had really put in a big effort in a relativley small area.The cross country was not a walk in the park and had some quite technical combinations, even the pre novice had a double of skinny barrels.
Mr Jones did his usual stunning dressage and clear sj to leave him in the lead going into the xc phase. However with Camphire in mind Sophie took him handy xc and he finished 2nd.
Luca made is Irish eventing debut at this event and finished a very respectable 2nd with Fernhill ASP.
Go-Go had a blonde moment at the road crossing and posted his only xc fault to date. Sophie was trying out a new bit and said it made him drift left, better to learn that here than at Camphire when he makes his frst International apperance!!
After a long drive home which also took in a Chinese take-away en route, we arrived back in Fernhill at 11pm.
A quick wash of the truck and re-pack ready for the Future Event Horse Finals in Tattersalls Sunday!!
The bed looks very inviting this evening but dont think I will get to stay there too long, leaving at 6.30am!!!
Badminton!!!
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010All at Fernhill were very excited as Duarte headed off to Badminton to make his 4 star debut.
Although Braveheart has won and 2nd in 3star CCI competitions its a big step up to four star and you never know if you really have a four star horse until you try!!
The dressage phase went according to plan and Braveheart was his usual composed self and scored 52 which we were very happy with. The test is much more technical than he has done before but with help from Pammy Hutton for the few weeks before Duarte was confident entering the arena.
When asked what he thought of the cross country Duarte said “BIG” to which I replied well what did you expect!!!
It was a serious track and as I am sure all reading this will know caused its fair share of problems with some of the top riders failing to complete.
We were therefore extra proud of both Duarte and Braveheart on jumping around clear. They looked a class act and a true four star combination.
The final day saw a couple of poles on the floor which is unusual for Braveheart and left them in 32nd place overall. A very commendable result and something to build on for next time.
Thanks to all who helped make it possible. Kate and Ruth Honey who minded Duarte and Braveheart in the weeks leading up to the event and during the week.
Polly Cottingham who as usual took great care of Braveheart and has been with him during most of his 3 day successes.
Hattie Lawrence the vet who took on Braveheart on his arrival in England and was with him during and after the xc phase and very early on Monday morning!!!
Pammy Hutton for Ironing out the wrinkles in the dressage phase and for her witty approach to teaching which she soon learned is the way to get the point accross to Duarte.
To Catherine Witt my loyal friend and supporter for her financial help with Duartes training which is supposed to be for our joint horse Fernhill Pimms but I am sure she will be delighted that what he learned will help when Pimms gets to this level!!!
Barroca D’Alva
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010With the rain still falling competitors owners grooms Uncle Tom Cobbley and all moved from Vale Sabroso to the site of the next and final two International events of the Spring Tour, Barroca D”Alva on the Ribertejo.
Many new competitors arrived just for the final two events so the place is packed full, the lorry park is a bit like a housing estate in the centre of Dublin!
Again the weather caused a revamping of the proceedings and the organisers decided due to the weather forecast to have the show jumping on the Saturday and the XC on the Sunday, a bit of a switch around but we were all in favour of better weather for the XC. The show jumping field normally lush green grass watered all year especially for the occasion was in fact waterlogged so the decision was taken to run on the all weather arena, however overnight rain also flooded this area. A third and final attempt to find dry land saw us hacking some 20 minutes to a lovely sandy field. Over two hundred horses jumped and after a rub of the roller there was not a hoof print in sight.
The dressage was half dressage half swimming being from Ireland our horses did not seem to notice!!
Pimms was 2nd again after the dressage and did a stunning test as usual to score 43.4. Just pipped by Clayton Fredricks on Mr Sidney Rocks.
Trojan Dust our Dutch bred horse did a stunning test too and scored 46.3.
A great clear round in the show jumping from Pimms and a clear xc in the time put him in First place so that was a brilliant result. Our only disappointment was that Catherine his co-owner was not there to enjoy the glory.
Dusty had a silly stop at the into space xc so dropped down the order but he is getting the hang of xc now and it will not be long before he starts getting some ribbons at this level.
