KAREN Blakely Palmer brought up an Eventing Ireland hat-trick when landing the EI100 (Amateur) championship at Kilguilkey House last weekend on her Irish Sport Horse gelding Knocklucas Ascalon.

The Co Tipperary rider partnered the bay to victory in similar company at Clyda at the beginning of the month while, on her previous EI start, which was at Grove in June 2023, she won the EI100 (Amateur) on Sir Alexander Diamond. In winning at Kilguilkey, Knocklucas Ascalon was recording a hat-trick of his own having landed an EI100 (J) at Crecora in July under his owner’s son Zach.The six-year-old Ascalon bay was bred in Co Clare by Ann Marie Meere out of the Tinaranas Inspector mare Clondrinagh Inspector.

At Kilguilkey, Blakely Palmer completed on her dressage score with Knocklucas Ascalon (31.5 penalties) while the dressage winner, Rachael O’Callaghan, had to settle for second when lowering one of the coloured poles and picking up 1.2 cross-country speeding time penalties for a total of 32 on her thoroughbred gelding Gervada. Susanna Boxwell, who finished third on 32.9, also had a show jump down with the Irish Draught gelding JMHillfield Double Diamond.

One combination withdrew before the cross-country phase where another was eliminated following an unseating. Only one other combination incurred jumping penalties over the fixed fences.

“I bought ‘Enzo’ last year from Jack Kennedy, Clonmel, who had owned him since he was a two-year-old and broke and produced him amazingly,” said a delighted Blakely Palmer. “My son Zach and I have produced him for the last 18 months, bringing him on slowly. Vitaliy Halstyan is our coach and he helps us train the horses so well, always doing what’s best for the horse. Enzo just loves his job as he is a true eventer and we are really looking forward to a bright future with him!”