Austin O'Connor Secures 5* Victory at Maryland
Three-time Olympian, Austin O’Connor, riding for Ireland, secured an historic victory at the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory. His remarkable achievement marks the first CCI5*-L win by an Irish rider in nearly six decades, an unforgettable moment for Irish eventing. He and his trusty partner, Colorado Blue, jumped from fourth place at the start of the show jumping finale to claim the top spot on the leaderboard. Their flawless round on Sunday, which included the competitions’ only clear jump, and a finish within the time on Michel Vaillancourt’s course, secured their victory with a final total score of 34.9. The podium featured notable competitors, including five-time British Olympic veteran William Fox-Pitt, who finished in second place, and World No. 1 Oliver Townend, who claimed the third spot.
Caroline Pamukcu and her incredible mount, HSH Connor, dominated the CCI3*-L. They led from start to finish, completing the competition on their first-phase score of 25.4. HSH Connor, an impressive 2016 Irish Sport horse gelding, has been on a winning streak, securing three consecutive FEI events in 2023.