Lenamore loving Burghley success

Lenamore and British-based New Zealand rider Caroline Powell kept their cool to produce a clear round when it mattered most to win one of the sport's most high-profile events.

The 17-year-old Lenamore made a piece of history becoming the oldest horse to win the Land Rover Perpetual Trophy and Geraldine Graham who brought the horse to the stables which are situated in the hills between Muff and Bridgend border when he was a foal, was delighted at her former charge's success.

"It's fantastic, it's a nice accolade for a horse that was intoduced by Lenamore Stables to win such an event. We have produced five horses that have competed at World Championship level but this success at Burghley is right up there. I'm delighted, the couple that own Lenamore were considering entering him for the World Championships in Kentucky but they decided that Burghley was going to be Lenamore's last event so it's a fantastic way for the horse to bow out," she said.

Geraldine bought Lenamore off renowned racehorse trainer Ted Walsh at the Royal Dublin horse show some 16 years ago.

"I was introduced by my long time friends Leslie and Barbara Fitzpatrick to an equally famous celeb Ted Walsh, father of Ruby Walsh; the conversation was about breeding and as the great Cruising was just starting his career. Ted said that when Mary McCann had persuaded him to cover two of his best mares with Sea Creast she didn't tell him what bullying brutes they would be around the feed trough. I intervened and said 'I'll buy the two foals from you and solve the problem'."

Geraldine held on to Lenamore until he was five years old before selling him on and says he was a brilliant horse to work with.

"He was fabulous. He was a sharp little horse, I broke him myself and adored him. I hunted him with the Strabane and Donegal Hounds. We kept him at Lenamore until he was five years old when we sold him on and I've followed his progress ever since. I was glued to Burghley all weekend and it was great to watch him winning. The couple who own him now phoned me immediately after he had won on Sunday and I also got a call from Olympic showjumper John Watson to congratulate me."

And Geraldine is confident that Lenamore won't be the last success story to bring international renown to the stables which look down upon the city.

"It's great for Lenamore Stables to be associated with this success and we have brought a lot of good young horses through the stables over the years I'm confident there will be loads more successes like this in the years to come," she said.