COUNTY riders Tim Price and Chris King both finished in the money at the Tattersalls International Horse Trials in Ireland.

Price, who rides for his native New Zealand and has been based at Mildenhall with partner Jonelle Richards since 2005, was in action in the Eventing Ireland CCI** three-day event.

He was riding Christina Knudsen’s nine year old ex-show jumper Wesko and the pair impressed in dressage to lie second on a score of 40.7. They stayed on that score, with fine clears in the cross-country and show jumping phases, to hold onto second behind Australian rider Christopher Burton.

“Wesko (Dash) was such a star and jumped an immaculate clear show jumping round to retain his incredible record of only once finishing out of the top three in his career to date,” said Price.

“Being beaten by the on-form Chris Burton and his three-star ride Under Discussion is no disgrace and Dash really is a star of the future.”

Price had been lying sixth after dressage on his second CCI** ride Wembley but the horse suffered a muscle problem cross-country, which meant he had to be pulled out.

Richards was 11th in the top Irish Field CCI*** section with her ride Mere Oak.

The pair had been lying third after dressage and jumped a good clear cross-country with 7.6 time penalties to stay within touch of the leaders.

An unlucky 14 show jumping penalties on the last day cost them a possible top six finish.

“Mere Oak was just slightly green in what was his first ever three star run,” she said.

“I was not over happy with his round but he is a good show jumper and usually very reliable in this phase. “His clear cross country will have really given him confidence – I wasn’t going to push for the time at this stage in his career.”

King, the Tytherton Lucas-based former Blenheim and Barbury winner, clinched third spot in the Land Rover CCI*, the first rung on the three day event ladder.

His partner was the grey seven year old Billy Bounce.

“This was Bounce’s first ever three day event and he proved why he is very special to us on the yard with this result,” said King, who finished just behind the in-form Burton and top GB rider Oliver Townend.

“GI Master Caster also finished on his dressage score to take 14th in the CCI** section. I was thrilled with him and he’s going from strength to strength.”

Isabel Djivanovic, whose family home is at Warminster but who is currently based with King, won the U25 CCI** section on Billy Buzz.

She too finished on her dressage score of 43.2 in the horse’s first-ever two star run.

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