ISH Classes
ALL three of the ISH age classes were well supported, especially the six-year-old sector which was won by Co Waterford farrier Ian Hannon. Teaming up with his own traditionally bred gelding Emperors Legion, Hannon opened in fifth place of the 21 runners, before delivering one of only four double clear rounds. As a result, he forged ahead of second-placed Steven Smith, with the equally clean-jumping Mis Matana, and also Dominic Furnell with Bellcross Guy.
Hannon, who runs the Old Road Stud in Tallow, had sourced the son of Emperor Augustus as a three-year-old from Goresbridge. “I was hoping for a good run. I had it in my mind at the start of the season to run in this series. He’s good enough, but he’s a big horse and has taken time,” he said. Bred by Deirdre McGuickian, the gelding is out of the Clonakilty Hero-sired mare Springvale Ginger Queen.
A tight time allowed sorted out the remaining contenders, although dressage leader Robbie Kearns surprisingly incurred one of just three cross-country penalties, when Cross Shannondale looked twice at the first.
It was very tight at the top of the five-year-old sector, in which a similar number of runners took part. With just four starters returning home within the time, the clock proved very decisive and probably unnecessarily so for the younger horses. That aside, the class was extremely well won by Adam Haugh and Tullymurray Fifi who, opening in second spot turned the tables on leaders Fraser Duffy and Ranga Tanga Roo.
The northern region rider was making his competition debut with the mare, whom he bought from breeder David O’Connor only a two months ago. Attractively bred, Tullymurray Fifi. is by the Holstein sire Cappuchino out of the thoroughbred mare Kearneystown Lass. Haugh was also placed third with Ella Boyle’s 2018 Millstreet National Eventing Discovery winner Stonehavens Baby Blue, while a costly two time penalties saw Duffy and Ranga Tanga Roo demoted to second.
None of the 10 runners in the baby four-year-old sector could return on their dressage scores, but a consistent run saw the top spot fall to event first-timer DOS Spideog ridden by Paul Kelleher. The pair impressed on the flat to score 29.8, and despite rolling a pole completed in front of John Joe Grace (Moneypenny Seven) and Sian Coleman with Ivanhoe. The winner who was bred by Dennis O’Sullivan is by Sibon and, out of Lile de Tory by Forties Field is half-brother to Brookfield de Bouncer (CIC3*).
EI110 classes
Ella Boyle and the smart WKD Cooley looked home and hosed in the EI 110 (O) but a costly 12 time penalties saw them hand a seasonal hat-trick to the Co Limerick pairing of Robbie Kearns and Garrybritt Bonnie. The experienced duo was far quicker in the country than their rivals, so by adding just two further penalties to their second-placed opening mark (26.5) just held at bay French rider Christian Gautier (Peruising) who delivered the sole double clear round (30.5).
Once again, the time proved difficult to get in a strong edition of the Knight Frank EI 100. None of those who completed the track attained it, but one of the fastest was Terence White, who smartly record a one/two with his own Swatch This and Garrybritt Dignified.
“It was a proper test, with some challenging but fair questions. My horses suit a galloping track, and it was good that the ground held in spite of the rain,” he said. White’s winner Swatch This is, as his name suggests by Watermill Swatch out of Laughton Clover (Laughtons Flight).
A big horse, this is his fourth win under EI rules, while the younger home-bred Garrybritt Dignified, only stepped up to this level earlier this year. Fellow professional Amanda Goldsbury enjoyed another good event, when filling both third with Boris de Blae, and fourth aboard Professor Pat Wall’s slower dressage leader Bridie.