Source:  News Release/Colin McClelland

Eventing - Irish Rise up the Ranks at Tattersalls but Funnell Holds onto Lead

THE cross country phase at Tattersalls Horse Trials in Co. Meath today (Saturday) saw Meath-based Sarah Ennis rise to fifth place overall in the three-star event, with two more Irish riders in the top ten, but British star Pippa Funnell managed to retain her overnight lead with the nine year-old Billy Beware on a score of 47.6.

Rolex Grand Slam winner Funnell incurred 7.2 time faults on Ian Stark's challenging cross country track, but Ennis went clear with BLM Diamond Delux to finish the phase on her dressage score of 53.1.

Meanwhile Aidan Keogh and the 11 year-old Master Tredstep held their overnight seventh position, and Irish Olympian Mark Kyle with Willow Fairgreen Attraction reaped the benefits of just 0.8 time faults to enter the top ranks with a tenth place.

Ireland's Clare Abbott is just outside the top ten, in eleventh place with the chestnut gelding Euro Prince on 60.2 faults.

Pippa Funnell has now yielded her overnight second place to Italy's Giovanni Ugolotti and the 12 year-old gelding Stilo Kontika, whose clear round narrowed the gap between them to less than one penalty point, with Australia's Bill Levett similarly poised in third place with  Improvise.

With the exception of Pippa Funnell's Billy Beware, all the above mentioned mounts are Irish Sport Horses.

The final phase of the Trials takes place on Sunday, when the show jumping phase will decide the outright winner.

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