Kevin and Emma at Aachen, where Emma was part of the silver medal wiining team, but now Kevin is back with a bang!
Australia’s Kevin McNab showed that he hasn’t lost any form after being out of competition due to a neck injury incurred earlier in the year. His wife Emma has been kept busy riding their horses but this weekend at Camphire International in Ireland it was Kevin that not only won the CIC2* on Brookfield Inocent but also came second on Brookfield Quality at his first competition since a fall at Rockingham International in May
Kevin started back in the saddle with a bang and his four horses in this class topped the scoreboard after the dressage; Brookfield Inocent and Brookfield Quality both on 36.6, Casperelli (33.8) and Clifton Spyder (39.80)
Brookfield Inocent finished on his dressage score of 33.6, a score equalled by his stable mate but Brookfield Quality added one time penalty in the show jumping and four time faults on cross country to complete on 38.6, quite a way ahead of third placed Meabh Bolger on Killossery Athletic Touch (46.4) and fourth placed Nicky Roncoroni on Stonedge (48.8) in the class of 46 riders. Casperelli and Clifton Spyder finished 14th and 38th but what a great day for Team McNab!
Britain’s Izzy Taylor was also on a roll with the three top placings in the CIC3*, winning on Trevidden (34) and taking second place on Be Touchable (37.1) and third on Perfect Stranger (40.7), who just came off a win in the Advanced at Aston Le Walls
With Britain’s Tom McEwen taking the CCI3* on the very smart looking Strike Smartly (48), Irish pride was retained with Sam Watson showing that, despite being flat out with business interests, he can also pick up a ribbon or two. He finished second on the bay gelding Ardagh Highlight (50.3) while two young British ladies took third and fourth; Olivia Craddock riding her Strzegom Nations Cup horse Billy Liffy finished on 54.6 and Lissa Green riding Hollyfield II on 59. Australia’s Catherine Burrell also made the trip across the water worthwhile with sixth place on Duke (55.1)
There were also plenty of Irish flags in the results for the smaller CCI2* class with Camilla Speirs on BT Bandit winning on a score of 43.5 although amazingly Sam Watson finished not only on exactly the same score on Imperial Sky, the two riders had exactly the same dressage score and added 1.2 time penalties each on cross country. Sam however finished in second place and we’re sure there’s some Irish logic there and an FEI rule ...........
Francis Whittington finished third in this class on Nimrod II on 45.3 but also took the CCI1* on Hope Over Experience, a lovely horse who won at Chilham Castle earlier this year, and third on DHI Fiktor Nita. Francis told us at Chilham that he has the best horses and owners he has ever had and it looks as if things are certainly travelling well for this up and coming team
