Emma McNab and the talented 10-year-old Fernhill Tabasco put in a winning performance at this year’s Tattersalls’ International Horse Trials in County Meath, Ireland to take the CIC3*. Proud owners of the 10-year-old bay gelding, Dom and Poppy Worcester were excited to be present at the event to see the pairs first big win since being produced by Emma from the age of four.
Emma and Toby, as he is known at home, started the event with a fantastic dressage score of 21.90 penalties and were in second place on the leader board at this stage.
A clear round in the show jumping followed and their cross-country round saw them jump a classy clear and finish with just 5.20 time penalties to claim the winning spoils in the George Mernagh Memorial CIC3*.
Said Emma: “Toby was fantastic from start to finish at the event. This is my first big win since moving to the UK and he (Fernhill Tabasco) is so deserving of it. We have been working really hard and he feels in top form."
Emma and Toby now head to Luhmühlen CCI*** in Germany for their final event in the lead up to selection of the Australian team for the World Equestrian Games in September.
Earlier this year Emma and Fernhill Tabasco were listed on the Equestrian Australia Green Eventing Squad. This is for combinations that have demonstrated a capability for medal performances at major championship level.
Success continued for the McNab team with Kevin in good form taking third place in the Eventing Ireland CCI2* with the talented Brookfield Quality, owned by Chloe and John Perry and Alison Swinburn.
British dominance...
With Britain now staking claim to the top three event riders in the world, their dominance showed in Ireland. With British wins in the CCI3*, CCI2*, CCI2*u25, CCI* and the CCIYH* 6&7yr olds.
Izzy Taylor claimed the 3* title with Call Me Maggie May ahead of William Fox-Pitt and Little Fire who finished on the same score. Fox-Pitt had the better dressage score (27.7) however he added 0.8 time penalties across the country to finish on 28.5, where as Taylor completed on her dressage score to take the win.
Piggy French continued her impressive 2018 season with a win in the CCI2* on Jennifer Saunders Cooley Monsoon, another combination to finish on their dressage score (27.4).
Tom Jackson and Court Casper produced a very impressive 25.7 dressage to win the u25 CCI2* ahead of Sam Ecroyd, and Matthew Wright picked up the CCI* win with The Corncrake.
Laura Collet rounded off the British wins with Calmaro winning the young horse 1* on a 21.8, some way ahead of nearest rival Tom McEwen on 25.3.
Jonty Evans...
Sadly Jonty Evans sustained a heavy fall from Cooley Rorkes Drift in the CIC3* and was taken to hospital.
Jonty continues to be in a stable condition and is receiving the best possible care and treatment in the specialist neurological department in Beaumont Hospital. The medical team advise that every case has to be treated individually and people respond differently to treatment. The family would like to thank everybody for their best wishes and kind messages of support.