EVENTING: Cassells secures a noteworthy victory on May 29, 2026

Cassells emerged victorious in the Coral Cove Championship CCIYH2*-S event at this year’s Millstreet International Horse Trials. This particular class showcased a plethora of emerging talent, setting the stage for future star athletes. The competition offered a sneak peek at some of the promising horses slated to participate in various young horse championships later in the year. The event held at Millstreet served as an early opportunity to witness these talented horses showcase their skills on an international platform in Ireland.

Ian Cassells demonstrated exceptional prowess as he rode Bridget McGing’s talented six-year-old gelding, BT Just Special (ISH), to a well-deserved victory in the class. Despite adding just 2.8 time penalties to their dressage score of 28.3 penalties, Cassells and BT Just Special clinched the top spot, showcasing a stellar performance. They notably achieved one of the few sub-30 dressage scores, impressing the ground jury consisting of Douglas Hibbert (GBR), Keike Kabashima (Winter-Nishi) (JPN), and Marie Hennessy (IRL).

Reflecting on his win, Cassells expressed his delight with BT Just Special, acknowledging the significant contributions of both Bridget McGing and Dermot Ryan to the horse’s development. While McGing dedicated substantial time and effort to the horse, Ryan competed with him in the young horse classes last year, setting the stage for Cassells to take the reins this season. Cassells highlighted the horse’s seamless transition to Novice level and revealed potential plans for upcoming competitions, including a potential return to Millstreet and a prospective trip to Cornbury. He also mentioned the possibility of aiming for the prestigious Le Lion d’Angers at the end of the season.

Lucy Latta and her mount Keamore Louise (ISH) secured the second position after delivering a solid performance throughout the weekend. Latta praised the seven-year-old by Luidam, describing her as relatively ‘inexperienced’ due to minimal competition in the previous year. With intentions of stepping up the horse’s competition levels over the summer, Latta expressed satisfaction with their performance at Millstreet. Sian Coleman also excelled in the competition, securing a podium finish with Rock Festival (ISH), earning third place overall.

Noteworthy performances were also observed from other competitors, including Andy Cox and Susanne Macken’s Lady Sky M, expertly piloted by Sarah Ennis, who clinched a commendable fourth place. Despite initial success, Momo Sheehy and Da Vinci incurred penalties during the cross-country phase, which affected their overall standing in the competition. Ultimately, the Coral Cove Championship CCIYH2*-S event proved to be a thrilling showcase of young equestrian talent, with Ian Cassells emerging as the triumphant rider atop BT Just Special.