BELATEDLY running for the first time this year, the popular Co Wicklow fixture at Rosanna was the venue for a well-supported event last Saturday.

One of a diminishing number of Leinster fixtures, the Wilding family’s beautiful estate lends itself ideally to the sport, and its undulating parkland terrain has to be a course designer’s dream.

Originally the vision of the late Tommy Brennan, the tracks have evolved over the past decade and, this year, the designing duties have fallen to newly accredited designer Sally Corscadden. Having her own cross-country schooling venue at Grange Farm, and having walked and analysed countless international tracks, Corscadden is ideally qualified for the job.

“It was the first time for me to be fully responsible and I really enjoyed it,” she said. “Rosanna is a fantastic venue, with the old parkland and natural undulations and, while I only had three weeks to come up with the courses, the bones were already there. I walked around two or three times and worked out how to use the permanent fences, with the idea of the tracks being progressive, educational and flowing. I enjoyed it, and it was interesting to watch how the tracks rode – and whether they rode differently to how I expected them to.”

The feedback from the riders was extremely positive, as it was about the ground. Despite weeks of rain, which had enforced the cancellation of their first planned fixture, the turf had held up well to provide possibly the best ground seen all season. “This was a great introduction from Sally, who has so much experience at all levels,” said Sam Watson. “There was great use of the parkland and the terrain and the courses were very educational, with lots of nice questions.”

Undulations

Because of the varying undulations, the time across country was influential throughout and notably so in the two, EI110 sectors. Only one combination in the open division came home within the time allowed, and that feat fell to the winning pairing of Momo Sheehy aboard her new season ride HHS Noble Call.

Formerly ridden to five-star level by Olympian Padraig McCarthy, Noble Call made little of the undulations and, despite tipping a coloured pole, eventually moved ahead of the field.

“The results came in as we were on the road home and were completely unexpected,” said Momo’s father Morgann.

“We had walked the track the previous night, put out our minute markers and Momo rode accordingly.” A member of last year’s junior European squad with TX Herby, 18-year-old Momo is now in the young rider ranks and teamed up with Noble Call earlier this year. “I was a little behind the clock at the beginning, because the track was twisty and I couldn’t really open him up, but then we were able to gallop on,” explained the Co Cork rider. “We’re still building up trust, but he’s so well-schooled and has a great canter, so it’s easy to see a stride.”

Unfortunately, and with so many cancellations this spring, the pair have not qualified for this year’s championships, but as Morgann added: “It’s not about medals, it’s all about experiences. He’s never going to be a dressage star, but we’re looking at the long-term, and fulfilling dreams.”

While the time allowed was the eventual decider, the cross-country track rode well for the majority of the nine starters. All were clear, with varying degrees of speed, except for Amy Lambert and Murphs Legend, who unfortunately parted company at the ditch combination (6a). With only three clear rounds, the show jumping was also influential, and proved costly for dressage leaders, Patrick Whelan and Denis Finch Hatton. The addition of just four penalties cost the Co Wexford pair pole position, while a clear round handed promotion for third placed Patrick Byrne aboard Richard Ames’ experienced show jumper, Belline Newmarket Delight.

Sian Coleman and Carrowgar Je T’Aime Max won the EI 110 class at Rosanna 2 \ Louise O'Brien Photography

Rewarding

A massive 34 runners went to post in the restricted sector, which produced a rewarding win for Sian Coleman aboard Gina Heaps’ home-bred 11-year-old Carrowgar Je T’Aime Max. In third spot on the flat, the Co Cork-based pair were among the fastest across the country and, as result, turned the tables on Nicola Ennis riding Corbally Mountain View.

A new recruit to the sport, Carrowgar Je T’Aime Max only turned to eventing at the start of this year, but as a grade A show jumper under Robyn Moran and Paul Beecher, he has plenty of competition experience.

“I think Gina just wanted to see what else he could do,” explained Coleman. “He’s been a complete pleasure to produce and is beautifully schooled. He had his ears pricked, he travelled really well and seems to love it. We’re heading for their first long format two-star at Millstreet this weekend, so we’ll see how we go.”

Having been the bridesmaid at Lisgarvan the previous week, Nicola Ennis and Corbally Mountain View had to settle for second spot again.

Adding only time penalties to an otherwise foot-perfect performance, connections will have been pleased at the consistency of this smart son of Harlequin du Carel who, only a seven-year-old, was sourced from his breeder Nora Ryan as a foal.

With the time allowed across country being the deciding factor once again, it was unsurprising to see Sam Watson achieve the sole double clear with the third placed Nominator.

Becoming a useful addition to the Watson string, the German-bred thoroughbred was unplaced from his three runs under rules, but looks to have a promising future in the eventing ranks. Dressage leaders Patrick Whelan and the eye-catching Ideal Spirit were also double clear, but with the addition of 5.2 time penalties slipped to fourth.

Out in the country, all but one completed and just two picked up isolated penalties en route.

EI100

Having hit the global headlines as the owner of the Badminton runner-up, RCA Patron Saint, Lesley Crampton, together with Sparkles Watson, was back in the ribbons when their smart dun Ballybolger Goldman took the honours in the first division of the Martsworth Flooring-sponsored EI100. The Co Carlow pair had filled second at Crecora last month, but dominating from flag fall, they were never headed. Only a six-year-old, the well-related gelding is by Tullabeg Fusion out of the thoroughbred dam Warcraft Kate (Warcraft) and, bred by Rosemary Ponsonby, was bought from her as a foal. “I was looking for a yellow foal, saw him and had to have him,” revealed Watson. “Lesley then saw him when I was teaching her daughter and, having always loved Tullabeg Flamenco (Watson’s Olympic partner), I persuaded her it was meant to be. He’s out of a mare who has bred several good horses, and we think this one is a very exciting prospect.”

In what proved to be a good and rewarding day for the thoroughbreds, Nicola Ennis completed in second with her former Gordon Elliot inmate Devils Cape, from Sian Coleman, this time with the unraced Finger On The Pulse.

Both divisions were well-filled, but unlike the first sector in which all came home clear in the country, the second delivered a few problems out on track. A couple of isolated errors at separate fences were recorded, while of the two who failed to complete, one was an error of course.

As had been the pattern all day – and indeed all season - the professionals claimed the bulk of the spoils. Collecting his third win of the current spell, Daniel Alderson headed the pack aboard Emma O’Shea’s Baby I’m A Star. Runner-up at both Hillcrest and Crecora this spring, the Ulysses-sired six-year-old was in second place on the flat, but with the time in the country wielding its influence, the placings juggled accordingly. As the only other runner within the time, Cathal Daniels filled second with Dr Sarah Hughes’ well-related Shannondale Micah, from the slower first phase leaders Jane-Marie Fitzgerald and Ballymurphy Hughie.