Ireland’s Camilla Speirs and her Irish Sport Horse, Portersize Just A Jiff, produced an outstanding final day performance, to record a top 10 finish at the world famous Badminton Horse Trials in the UK today.
The Irish pair had started the day in 17th place after a clear Cross Country round on Saturday and they moved even further up the leaderboard after a foot perfect Show Jumping display to take ninth place overall.
Crowd favourite Portersize Just A Jiff was by far the smallest horses in the competition, standing just over 15 hands. Kildare-based Speirs and her 16-year-old mount’s previous best Badminton result was in 2010 when they finished 14th.
Portersize Just A Jiff is a traditional Irish Sport Horse gelding by the Connemara Pony stallion Crosskeys Rebel, out of the dam Mizen Talent (ISH) who is by Mizen Melody (TB) and was bred by Philip White from Co. Derry.
Mullingar-born Joseph Murphy finished in 28th place with DHI Topstory and filled 40th spot with his second mount, Sportsfield Othello (ISH). Limerick’s Michael Ryan and Ballylynch Adventure (ISH) finished in 30th place, while Sarah Ennis and BLM Diamond Delux came home in 34th.
Irish Eventing Team Manager Nick Turner commented afterwards: “Camilla and Jiffy were extremely good all weekend. They produced a copybook Cross Country ride and again today in the Show Jumping. It is great to see them back at their best and Jiffy is a real crowd favourite. All five Irish combinations were a credit to their riders and their support team and the horses owners. To have all five finish the three days when so many didn’t finish, shows the strength in depth we have and proves the programs we have in place are delivering results. We now look forward to Chatsworth next weekend where we have 21 Irish entries in the three-star competition.”
The Irish bred Artic Soul finished on the podium, filling third place with Britain’s Gemma Tattersall.
German maestro Michael Jung added the Badminton crown to his World, European and Olympic title wins. He guided La Biosthetique Sam to victory after leading the competition from start to finish.
Breeding information
Arctic Soul (TB) – 2003 gelding by Luso (TB) out of Dream Cocktail (TB), by Roi Danzi (TB). Bred by: Michael Whitty.
Ballylynch Adventure (ISH) – 2000 chestnut gelding by Don Juan de le Bouverie (SBS) out of Stanman Girl (TB), by Standaan (TB). Bred by John B Hughes, Co. Meath. Owner: Carol & Tom Henry, Sheila Foley. Rider: Michael Ryan (IRL)
BLM Diamond Delux (ISH) – 2003 gelding by Olympic Lux (KWN) out of B M Diamond (ISH) by Young Convinced (TB). Bred by Katy Murphy, Co. Meath. Owner/Rider: Sarah Ennis (IRL)
Portersize Just a Jiff (ISH)(TIH) – 2000 gelding by Crosskeys Rebel (CP) out of Mizen Talent (ISH) by
Mizen Melody (TB). Bred by Philip White, Co. Derry. Owner: Bridget & Camilla Speirs. Rider: Camilla Spiers (IRL)
Sportsfield Othello (ISH) – 2001 bay gelding by Ricardo Z (ZANG) out of Moy View Lady (ISH), by Ring
of Ford (TB). Bred by John Kenny, Co. Tipperary. Owner: Jill Murphy, Alison Schmutz, Andrew Tinkler. Rider: Joseph Murphy
(Photo: Helen Revington)
