ROUNDING off a busy week for riders of all disciplines, Tattersalls hosted their annual Eventing Ireland fixture last Sunday.

Despite the unfortunate clash with the RDS, the event was well-attended - with many riders using the venue as a final warm up for this weekend’s Lisgarvan international event.

The fixture also staged the penultimate leg of DAFM Studbook age series, the final of which will take place at the National Championships at Kilguilkey on September 8th/9th.

EI115 classes

The three EI115 classes were defined by a tight time allowed, but having gained an outstanding 19.5 dressage mark from Derval Diamond, the open winners Michael O’Toole and First Obama had more leeway in this regard than the remaining nine runners.

That said, the pair scorched around the lengthy cross-country track in the fastest time of the sector and, after adding 6.8 for time, eventually headed second placed Patrick Whelan aboard Piltown OBOS by a full 16 marks.

“With Lisgarvan in a few days’ time, this was a timely win,” said O’Toole. “The time was tight, but it suits my fellow to go at a bit of a rate and it keeps him up to the job.”

In second spot, Patrick Whelan is no slow coach across the country either and, while he picked up a seemingly hefty 13.6 penalties, it was good enough to reverse placings with Patrick Byrne and Boleys Maximum, who was faster across the country, but was hampered by making three errors over the coloured poles.

Best season

Junior rider Lucy Ruth McDowell has been enjoying her best season to date and, riding the nine-year-old Glenvine Codename R, she headed the three runners in the restricted sector.

The daughter of Tolan R, bred by Antoinette and Patrick Milligan, added just 10 time faults to her leading dressage score (32.5), eventually bettering Patrick Whelan (Tullibards Joyce L) by nearly 20 marks.