Supreme Rock (ISH) Reigns Supreme at Badminton CCI**** 2003

Reigning European Champion since 1999 at Luhmuhlen and Team and Individual European Champion at Pau in 2001, aswell as Team Olympic Silver Medallist at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and Team Bronze at WEG 2002, Supreme Rock (ISH) has now also won the premier Horse Trials event in the world for the second year running.

Placed first after the dressage phase on Thursday, May 1st, Supreme Rock (ISH), who was ranked fourth in the World Breeding Rankings for 2001/2002, and rider Pippa Funnell (GBR) held pole position through the Cross Country and Show Jumping phases to retain their Badminton title.

Irish bred horses were out in force at Badminton this year with seventeen of them finishing in the final forty four placings. Five Irish Sport Horses, including winner Supreme Rock (ISH), took the following positions in the final top twelve:

5th place ~ Shear H2O (ISH) ridden by Leslie Law (GBR).

8th place ~ Hannigan (ISH) ridden by Phillip Dutton (AUS).

9th place ~ Ringwood Cockatoo (ISH) ridden by Bettina Hoy (GER).

12th place ~ Captain Christy (ISH) ridden by Kristina Cook (GBR).

Irish bred Over To You finished third, ridden by Jeanette Brakewell (GBR), while Patricia Donegan (IRL) rode Don’t Step Back (out of an ISH mare) to take tenth place.

In Show Jumping Conor Swail (IRL) rode Windgates King Koal (ISH) to take third place in the Modena (Italy) CSI*** Grand Prix on Sunday, May 4th. Conor also won Saturdays Anni Tempo class following a clear round with Windgates Sensation (ISH).

Breeding of the above Irish Sport Horses

Supreme Rock (ISH) ~ 1988 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Edmund Burke (TB), out of Rineen Classic (ISH), by Bassompierre (TB) bred by Mrs Lindy Nixon-Grey, Rineen Equestrian Centre, Skibbereen, Co.Cork.

Shear H2O (ISH) ~ 1990 Irish Sport Horse Gelding by Stan the Man (TB), out of Starry Night II (ISH), by Carnival Night (TB) bred by Mr. Edward Walsh, Moveen East, Kilkee, Co. Clare.

Hannigan (ISH) ~ 1991 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Western Promise (ISH), out of Bleeker Lady (ISH), by Carnival Night (TB), bred by Harold Lusk, Baileys Mills, Lisburn, Co. Antrim.

Ringwood Cockatoo (ISH) ~ 1991 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Peacock (TB), out of Baileys Folly (ISH), bred by Hilary Greer, Castleblayney Road, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan.

Captain Christy (ISH) ~ 1992 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Cavalier (Holst), out of Free Flo (ISH), by Imperius (TB), bred by Clare Hughes, Graigue, Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny.

Over To You ~ 1988 Irish Thoroughbred by Over the River (TB), out of Another Miller (TB), by Gala Performance (TB), bred by Jack Lett, Holyfort, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Don’t Step Back ~ 1992 Sport Horse by Step Together (TB), out of Castleview Lass (ISH), by Belgrave (TB), bred by P.J. Lehane, Castleview, Clonakilty, Co. Cork.

Windgates King Koal (ISH) ~ 1988 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Kildalton King (RID), out of a Prince Rois (TB) Irish Sport Horse mare bred by Laurence Pender, Garrymore, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Windgates Sensation (ISH) ~ 1996 Irish Sport Horse mare by Cavalier (Holst), out of Windgate Lady (ISH), bred by Edward Cawley, Ballymaglassan House, Dunboyne, Co. Meath.

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