Record crowds of 20,000 at Tattersalls horse trials

Record numbers of spectators attended the Tattersalls International Horse Trials and Country Fair at Ratoath at the weekend, when almost 20,000 visitors streamed through the gates of the Tattersalls Ireland facilities at Fairyhouse to enjoy family fun as well as top-class equestrianism. History was made on Sunday at Tattersalls in the world of international horse trials as British rider William Fox-Pitt won all three senior international classes, taking home the trophies for the CCI*, CCI** and CCI***. Jayne Doherty was very much the local hero. Not only did she also finish 12th on her second CCI*** horse, Ravenstar, but she took home the Lord Carew Silver Salver for the highest-placed Irish rider, the Watercolour Trophy, and shared the Ian Olding Memorial Trophy with Joseph Murphy for the Northern Region rider that improved most after dressage with a rise of 21 places. Competitors at Tattersalls included British royal Zara Philips who, on the opening day, Friday, took the lead in the Tattersalls Ireland Event Horse Sales CIC*** class on Lord Lauries, and was the overnight leader. Catherine Witt, whose Rookery Park Stud sponsored both the CCI** and the CCI* classes, was overjoyed when the horse that William Fox-Pitt had ridden to victory in the one star class at this event a year ago, Bay My Hero, went on to win the CCI** class. She said: "I am thrilled for the breeder Bryan Maguire. And delighted to be able to support such a fantastic event here in Ireland. It gives much-needed international experience to Irish-bred horses, and to Irish riders here on their home ground," said Catherine. Oliver Townend was less than a point adrift in second and New Zealander Andrew Nicholson was third on Viscount George. Second to Fox-Pitt on Lady Voltaire in the CCI* by a fraction of a point was Louisa Lockwood on The Leopard. Suzanne Jordan from Co Down did Ireland proud with third place on Da Capo Two. The Tattersalls Ireland Event Horse Sales CIC class rode both their showjumping and cross-country on Sunday. The cross-country phase produced dramatic changes to the placings with the inexperience of some of the younger horses showing through. Only five went round clear of jumping penalties. These included the winner Oliver Townend on Jeepers Creepers and Sarah Bullimore on My Last One in second, with Kate Harrington, daughter of trainer Jessica, and Ciaran Glynn from Dublin in third and fourth places.