IT was great to see that all but one of the Eventing Ireland-sanctioned one-day events in the period under review, ran a section for amateurs competing at novice level, where those living in Co Meath did particularly well.

At Clyda (3) in August, the honours went to National Hunt jockey Anthony Fox, riding his partner Amy Parsons’s 11-year-old black gelding, OJ. Fox only started his eventing career less than a month earlier at Tullymurry, (2) where he won the EI100 (Amateur) class on the same horse.

Property development manager Sharon Reilly concluded her short season winning at Tattersalls with Until Proven Guilty, on whom she had finished second at Killossery Lodge (1) and Clyda (2) and third at Lisgarvan House (1). Reilly and her 12-year-old Inocent gelding also finished seventh, on their dressage score in the CCI2*-S at Kilguilkey in late June.

Also from Co Meath, the McGrath sisters had a good season, especially in the latter stages, with Ailbhe winning twice in August at Loughanmore and Ballyvannon on her 11-year-old Frankfort Boy gelding, Tredstep Renaissance Man.

Second title for McGrath

THINGS didn’t go so well for Ailbhe at Eventing Ireland’s National Championships at Kilguilkey House later in the month as, following a cross-country ‘blip’ with the chesnut, she finished ninth behind her sister Sadhbh, who claimed the EI110 (Amateur) title for the second year running with their mother Emer’s Bridgemans Cocoa Malt.

Trinity Ph.D student Sadhbh and the 12-year-old Chacoa gelding were also among the winners at Loughanmore, where they left the confines of the amateur ranks to land the EI110 (Open). They concluded their season finishing 18th of 52 in the CCI2*-S at Ballindenisk International (2).

While busy running the many events at Kilguilkey House with husband Danny, Michelle Dulohery took time out to compete two of her own horses this season. She recorded two wins on Blackmoor Crest, the first at their home event in early July and the second coming on the 17-year-old Sea Crest gelding at Hillcrest (1) on September 1.

Knocking on the door throughout the season, Belfast solicitor Florence Campbell ended the campaign with two wins to her credit, landing the EI100 (Amateur) at Ballyvannon on her 18-year-old Master Imp gelding Imperial Master and the EI110 (Amateur) at Knockany with her 2009 Marlon gelding, Emperor G.