CROSSMOLINA show jumper Luke Corcoran is really making his presence felt at this year’s Eventing Ireland Western Region/Berts Properties starter series and was again among the winners at the Galway Equestrian Centre on Monday

Here, he claimed the six and seven-year-old class on the newcomer RV Pulpit Rock who the rider, his brother Adam and their good friend Ian Fives bought privately in Denmark last October. “He is by Silvaner DC, a son of Silvio I, out of a mare by Grafs Stakkato, a son of Graf Top,” revealed the rider.

“He had been just sat on at the time we bought him,” said the successful rider, “and this was his first day out at a show. This league is great mileage for him and I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops over the next couple of weeks.”

Corcoran and RV Pulpit Rock completed on their winning dressage score (53.5) ahead of Aoife McCabe, who had mixed luck on the day but here finished second, also on her flatwork mark, with the Irish Sport Horse gelding KMS Ali (49), a Tyson six-year-old who has 53 Showjumping Ireland points.

As they couldn’t be split in any way on 48 points, three combinations qualified for the final in third place – Tim MacDonagh on Hollypark Napoleon, Rachael O’Callaghan riding Kieltys Buzz and Matt Gordon with DS Shotgun. Successful earlier in the day, Duncan McFadyen was lying second (52) after dressage on Drumbane General who picked up 12 jumping penalties for a completion score of 40.

The day’s Sea Warrior Sea Supplements best turned-out award was presented to Caroline Devine who competed in this class on her Traditional ISH gelding Captain Devine, a six-year-old bay son of Clonaslee Captain Cristo.

This class is jointly-sponsored by Drumhowan Stud and Coolballyshan Stud. The former Co Monaghan-based operation this week confirmed its stallion roster for 2024. It includes the new Horse Sport Ireland 5*-rated eventing sire Zapatero VDL and the new HSI 5*-rated show jumping sire Colandro. The stud is also introducing Caracas, Jos Verlooy’s top show jumping talent and winner of over €1m in prize money, and the proven son of Cardento, Dakar VDL.

Breeders can avail of a mixed selection of stallions at Drumhowan including top Warmbloods, thoroughbreds and Irish Draughts. Drumhowan collaborates during the season with the established stud and event horse breeding farm, Ballinteggart Stud, Co Armagh.