HAROLD and Jenny Lusk hosted last Saturday’s Northern Region one-day event at Knockany where major changes saw Luke Drea taking on the role of cross-country course designer, while the tracks in the all-weather show jumping ring were set by Portmore’s Rafael Suarez.

All three phases proved influential with the undulations of the Co Down venue making the time difficult to achieve across the country where any wind issues were always likely to be exposed. The going on all tracks, which started uphill, was described as excellent.

On the novice course, the majority of problems came at the three-part Frank’s Bank at six, the A element (a roller) of the Brennan’s Brook water at nine and the B element (a slatted roller) in the water at Harold’s Moat (11). Many horses did not jump that last roller well with riders opining that the water was too deep.

The pre-novice horses fared best with their track although there were a very small number who had an issue with the first water which, for them, was just a run through splash followed by a left turn to a narrow ‘castle’.

Unfortunately for many of those in the concluding EI90 classes, their wait until the end of the day proved fruitless as they didn’t get past fence nine, The Waterstep, which at this level comprised a small jump down into or over a very narrow bit of water.

Their approach was a bit steeper than that for the EI100 classes and perhaps being closer to the hedge was darker but Harold Lusk said that the exact fence was used in training classes back in 1987.

No doubt some of these who were eliminated at the fence for a variety of reasons returned for the Go-As-You-Please on Sunday which was run in conjunction with a jumping show and a charity boot sale.

Howard Whelan was on duty as veterinary surgeon for the day but was assisted by Michael Duggan who was on a weekend home from his position as hospital intern with Bell Equine in Kent. Michael walked the course laden down with a large veterinary kit bag.

As usual, the excellent fare on offer at Knockany was supplied by White Horse Catering whose delicious array of cakes I managed to resist although I did tuck into their very good breakfast.

The undulations of Knockany obviously suit Rachel Rendle’s style of riding as she was the only one to go clear inside the time in the Horse First CNC1* class to win on her dressage score with Ballyvally Bay (33.3), while her only other EI victory came on her last appearance at this venue when she landed the CNCJ1* with Primrose Hill in 2014.

“What I liked about the class was that every phase had its effect on the result,” said Rendle, who works with show jumper William Greene at whose Dromore yard Ballyvally Bay is the only event horse.

“I couldn’t believe I was home inside the time but my mare is tough and just keeps going. She’s a cross-country machine and will jumping anything between the flags. She was really brilliant over what was a good, tough track.”

This weekend Rendle and her nine-year-old Cyrano mare are competing in the CIC1* at Ballindenisk where they are the sole combination representing The Netherlands. “My mother is Dutch,” explained the rider. Ballyvally Bay was first produced on the event scene by Co Down’s Louise Doyle who bred the bay out of the Corran Ginger mare Edens Princess.

NOVICE DEBUT

Adam Haugh led after dressage with Verande (29) but that VDL Arkansas gelding, who was making his novice debut, picked up eight show jumping penalties and was then taken quietly around the cross-country track, accumulating 16 time penalties. Jumping double clears but being outside the time on the final leg, Steven Smith finished second on Newferry Jagermeister (39.4) with Jonny Steele placing third on Homegrown Ajax (41.2).

Poor Conor Savage didn’t enjoy the best of starts to his one-star career, having a fall on the flat early on the course with LKC Diamond Legacy before being unseated from Big Boy Blue at Brennan’s Brook (nine).

Over the same track, there were only two finishers in the five-runner CNCP2* class.

Following the dressage phase, Chloe Fagan and Sara Hercock’s Connemara gelding Carbury Cascade (37) were just one penalty point ahead of Rocco Quinn and Knockagarron Fear Bui Princess but, in spite of time penalties on both jumping legs, Fagan and the seven-year-old Laerkens Cascade Dawn dun, who was making his two-star debut, were well clear of their rivals.