Sport

Another win for Irish breeding

William Fox-Pitt, who misses out on the trip to the World Equestrian Games in 10 days' time because of a leg injury to his top…

By GRANIA WILLIS
Mon Sept 21 1998 - 01:00

William Fox-Pitt, who misses out on the trip to the World Equestrian Games in 10 days' time because of a leg injury to his top horse Cosmopolitan II, made amends by riding the I'm A Star gelding Moon Man to win the feature competition at the Necarne Castle international in Loughanmore yesterday for the second major three-day win for Irish breeding in a week.

Fox-Pitt, who missed most of the spring season after breaking his ankle in a fall at Weston Park, took advantage of dressage leader Lucy Challis's disappearance on Saturday when Kibah Bossa Nova went lame, to move into a lead that he held yesterday, in spite a knock in the show jumping that left him 8.8 clear of Eric Smiley and Benjamin Phipps.

Even though the home side could claim only one side of the victorious two-star partnership, both winners in the other two classes were 100 per cent Irish. Wicklow's Heidi Walsh remained on her dressage score with Tim Philips' impressive Broussard gelding Flashman K to take the one-star honours ahead of New Zealand's Fiona Fraser (Monty Python III). And Bantry-based Valeska Kroeger held on by the slimmest of margins to take the junior class ahead of Shelley Cunningham and Another Tommy.

Fermanagh District Council Two- Star (finals placings) - 1, Britain's Moon Man (William Fox-Pitt), 55.6 penalties; 2, Ireland's Benjamin Phipps (Eric Smiley), 63.4; 3, Britain's Midnight Flyer (Tiny Clapham), 67.0; 4, Britain's Primitive Control (Caroline Pratt), 67.2; 5, New Zealand's Caliber (Caroline Powell), 71.4; 6, Ireland's Horseware Halcyon Days (Jenny Pratt), 75.4.

READ MORE

Necarne Castle One-Star (Stevenson Developments) - 1, Ireland's Flashman K (Heidi Walsh), 48.8 penalties; 2, New Zealand's Monty Python III (Fiona Fraser), 51.8; 3, Ireland's Red Quest (Claire Gilna), 54.4; 4, Ireland's Primo Belle (Jane O'Flynn), 56.4; 5, Ireland's Jackson River (Melanie Philips), 58.6; 6, New Zealand's Haka (Blyth Tait), 61.6.

Mahon's Hotel Juniors - 1, Ireland's Meeng Rule (Valeska Kroeger), 64.0 penalties; 2, Ireland's Another Tommy (Shelley Cunningham), 64.2; 3, Ireland's Sage (Charlotte Hayes), 69.3; 4, Ireland's Positive Spirit (Alex Hynds), 69.7; 5, Ireland's Shooting Star II (William Clarke), 70.2; 6, Ireland's Flowerhill Delight (Niamh Flanagan), 71.0.